This is a translation from “Day by Day”, the Russian book of scriptural meditations:
"Scripture: “For if you keep silence at such a time as this…you and your father’s family will perish” (Esther: 4,14)
"Meditation: The only true path to life lies directly in the fulfillment of our duty. Whoever deviates from this path even for a time subjects himself to great danger. In a struggle there is no greater danger than evasion of the struggle. The same thing can be said about all the paths of our earthly life. To evade our direct responsibility is always much worse than the responsibility itself, no matter how difficult it may be.
"We often avoid responsibility, saying that we cannot accept it. But in avoiding it we encounter a much greater difficulty. It is much easier to fulfill what God sends us, no matter how difficult, than to take upon ourselves the responsibility of not fulfilling this duty.
"The Lord has often promised us that we will have enough strength to fulfill everything that is given us. But when we evade this, we can no longer count on help from above and will undoubtedly bear the consequences of our disobedience.
“We lose everything when we lose an opportunity sent us for our good. It is dangerous and useless to choose one’s own path. Let us leave it to the Lord to show it to us, and let us fulfill what our duty indicates without discussion and without avoiding it, but with trust in God’s grace and His timely assistance.”
This brings to mind what happened in “The Silver Chair” when the children and Puddleglum heard Prince Rilian call on the name of Aslan:
" ‘Do you mean you think everything will come right if we do untie him?’ said Scrubb.
" ‘I don’t know about that,’ said Puddleglum. ‘You see, Aslan didn’t tell Pole what would happen. He only told her what to do. That fellow will be the death of us once he’s up, I shouldn’t wonder. But that doesn’t let us off following the sign.’ "
Dimitry
“Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. Love does not demand its own way. Love is not irritable, and it keeps no record of when it has been wronged. It is never glad about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance. Love will last forever.” (1 Corinthians 13: 4-8)
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