There is a deep lie in the notion that "convenience" and "easy" are most important. I have never known something to be very important that didn't take hard work.
As newly-illumined after 50 years in the same Protestant denomination, I'm learning the necessity and the hard work of continual repentance. How much I treasure the prayers from the Divine Liturgy:
For pardon and remission of our sins and transgressions, let us ask the Lord.
For that which is good and beneficial for our souls, and for peace for the world, let us ask the Lord.
That we may complete the remaining time of our life in peace and repentance, let us ask the Lord.
And let us ask for a Christian end to our life, peaceful, without shame and suffering, and for a good defense before the awesome judgment seat of Christ.
easy = superficial. easy = avoidance of struggle, maintaining our world- and passion- boundedness. easy = lamentable default setting for me if not guard and remain vigilant, correct and struggle against with God's help. The easy prevents us from discovering and struggling against our deeper passions that lie beneath "easy" ones. The superficial and easy cannot lead to the transformation the deepest distortions and disfigurement of man/woman; barrier to growing in prayer. Easier written than lived, of course.
As newly-illumined after 50 years in the same Protestant denomination, I'm learning the necessity and the hard work of continual repentance. How much I treasure the prayers from the Divine Liturgy:
For pardon and remission of our sins and transgressions, let us ask the Lord.
For that which is good and beneficial for our souls, and for peace for the world, let us ask the Lord.
That we may complete the remaining time of our life in peace and repentance, let us ask the Lord.
And let us ask for a Christian end to our life, peaceful, without shame and suffering, and for a good defense before the awesome judgment seat of Christ.
easy = superficial. easy = avoidance of struggle, maintaining our world- and passion- boundedness. easy = lamentable default setting for me if not guard and remain vigilant, correct and struggle against with God's help. The easy prevents us from discovering and struggling against our deeper passions that lie beneath "easy" ones. The superficial and easy cannot lead to the transformation the deepest distortions and disfigurement of man/woman; barrier to growing in prayer. Easier written than lived, of course.