PRAYER VII
Would
that I could make musicians from stone, dancers from the sand of the
lake, and minstrels from the leaves of all the trees in the mountains,
so that they might help me glorify the Lord—that the voice of the earth
might be heard amidst the choirs of angels!
The
sons of men gorge themselves at the table of the absent Master, singing
for no one but themselves and about nothing save that which fills their
mouths, which must in time return to the earth.
Exceedingly
sad is the blindness of the sons of men, who do not see the power and
glory of the Lord. A bird lives in the forest, yet does not see the
forest. A fish swims in the water, yet does not see the water. A mole
lives in the earth, yet does not see the earth. In truth, the likeness
of man to birds, fish, and moles is exceedingly sad.
Humans,
like animals, do not heed what exists in excessive abundance, but open
their eyes only before that which is rare or exceptional.
Of
Thee, O Lord, my breath, there is excess; therefore, men do not see
Thee. Thou art too obvious, O Lord, my sighing; therefore, the attention
of men is diverted from Thee and directed towards polar bears, towards
rarities in the distance.
Thou
servest Thy servants too greatly, my sweet faithfulness; therefore,
Thou art subjected to scorn. Thou rises' to kindle the sun over the lake
too early; therefore, the sleepyheads cannot bear Thee. Thou are too
zealous in lighting the vigil lamps in the firmament at night, my
unsurpassed zeal; and the lazy hearts of men speak more of the indolent
servant than to one zealous.
O
my love, would that I could motivate all the inhabitants of the earth,
water, and air to hum a hymn to Thee! Would that I could remove leprosy
from the face of the earth and turn this wanton world back into the
virginal purity that Thou didst create!
Truly, my God, Thou art just as great with or without the world.
Thou
art equally great, whether the world glorifies Thee or whether the
world blasphemes Thee. But when the world blasphemes Thee, in the eyes
of the Saints Thou seemest even greater.
"Prayers by the Lake"
St. Nikolai of Ohrid