06.24.09
Tough in print, Gentle in person
Father Seraphim Rose is getting dearer and dearer.
So it was with Father Seraphim. As a pastor, he knew when to rebuke and when to console, how to instill Christ-like humility in people and at the same time nourish them with hope. His gentle manner, so different from the “tough” tone he often took when defending the truth in print, drew people to him. One could look into his eyes and know he understood one’s place of pain – for he had been there, too. One knew that he would have compassion on one’s sinfulness, for in his humility he himself felt sinful before the majesty of God. Once, in encouraging one of his spritual daughters who was feeling depressed and condemned by her own sinfulness, he told her: “If you feel condemned, you will go free.” (Father Seraphim Rose, His Life and Works, p. 822)
debd said,
June 24, 2009 at 8:50 pm
that is lovely. I hope to read this someday, but had no idea it was so long! I’ve been having a hard time sticking with long (400+ pages) books lately.
Andrea Elizabeth said,
June 25, 2009 at 6:42 am
It’s a little over 1000 pages! But it flows well. It seems more like having a conversation with a person every day for a long stretch than like reading a text.