I was born and raised in the era of atheism. My parents baptized me in secret from the Soviet authorities, but truly a faithful Christian in our family was only one person – my grandmother – dad's mother. In my childhood memories there is a place two icons hanging in the Holy corner of her house and, of course, her prayers and rituals. For example, to Apple Spasa it is not eat apples, and my question "why?" replied briefly: "Because my children died during the war from starvation. Your dad and survived."
It is now I find out about rituals and their myths more, and then, from their ignorance, even with some elevation I boldly said, "Grandma, what do You all pray? There is no God! People have already visited and didn't meet anyone there!". My grandmother calmly replied: "no, but I have!" Since then many years have passed. I've been looking for my Faith everywhere: in psychology, in philosophy and in other Sciences. I never thought that being in a Catholic country, I came that close to Christianity.
a Year ago I had the first desire to open the Bible. Hundreds of times I've wiped it from dust, and again returned to my nightstand for my husband. And recently heard from a priest the following sentence: "to understand you are an atheist or a believer you should at least read the Scripture". And I started reading. To read and listen to sermons of abbots, protoireem and other abbots of the temples. Surprised that some of them are doctors of science, and some came into the Ministry after reading the works of Fyodor Dostoyevsky and Viktor Frankl.
I opened up an incredibly rich world, and many embedded meanings in every event of life. I saw many similarities between talented priests and psychologists. And those and others contain everything that is in every modern man: its own characteristics, and the advantages and disadvantages, and disease. They grew up in the same environment on the same grounds as other people, but the extent of their liability is much higher. And those and others should always think about how to speak their word to the others.
One of the tasks facing them, and thus before us – as often as possible to acknowledge your weaknesses and shortcomings. To be able to fix them. To those who come for help have been able to see in them ordinary people who are also subject to temptations and weaknesses, and that, perhaps, only a step ahead of your inner struggle. Not in the struggle between good and evil, but to combat evil with good.
And the psychologist, and the priest, it is important to be able to say, "I don't know. Let's find the answer together." Charm people with your knowledge, then the fact were not disappointed. Even in Jesus many were disappointed, even though they were not trying to charm. He himself is the Truth, but most of it was not needed. People wanted miracles, spectacles, of the multiplication of loaves, the healing of the sick. But to know the Truth it is necessary to work. A person is saved God's help, but not without their own efforts.
Here's the story confirming the above. Came once two strangers to the monk Anthony the Great, and began to ask about how they live. He gave them answers, but none of the travelers are unable to take. And then he said, Great Antony to his disciple: "These people don't, others do not want. Feed them porridge and go with God." And so today in Church people come in, not wanting to admit their sins. And in the office of the psychologist it is difficult to see its drawbacks. And something else to do with them – this requires the will and courage! While we honestly do not put a diagnosis, we will not move from the place and never healed.
King Solomon said, "the rich and a lot of friends, and the poor, and relatives enemies." We must have the courage to put a diagnosis "dislike" to recognize: "I don't like such people." And scrolling the whole list. And to love not very good. Do we love really? It is easy to check. Hook the person and see that he will pour honey or tar?
In the modern world of man deceives his own self View, what we focus? As we rush and rejoice with the number of likes and subscribers. And then subscribe, then unsubscribe from all the "gurus". To subscribe would be worth the rest of your life on the Bible. It is the guide on how to learn to love.
And the priest and the psychologist to help yourself it is important to choose, knowing that you trust created by the system of values and beliefs. Consciously or unconsciously, the assistant will preach something different, based on their life goals and coordinates. Someone from the Ministers said, "If the priest was sick for a long time and had no sorrows, the better to him for advice not to go. Fed no one is hungry". I think this applies to psychologists. Specialist, shabby life, far more ignorant. It is important that those who goes a little ahead told that he walked the same road, and he was the same as in most of stalemate, there's always a way.
Basil the Great Church writer and theologian – said: "If we are about to speak, let's talk about this from both sides." Every situation has two sides. In helping there are two protagonists – God and man. The priest and the psychologist – it is only intermediaries. And to both it is important to tell the truth. But this truth is important to find a form that will be most careful not to cause the man such force pain, which will prevent understanding. That asking for help might be offended should not stop them. Because offense is sometimes very nice, isn't it?
I said It's not, it's written by Dostoevsky in his latest novel "the Brothers Karamazov": "Because offense is sometimes very nice, isn't it? And because the person knows that no one hurt him, and that he himself had a grudge navidul and lied for beauty, he exaggerated to the picture to create. The word became attached and peas made mountain. He knows this, and yet the first is offended, offended to amenity, to sense of pleasure, and thereby comes to hatred of true".
Finished with the words of Georgy Chistyakov, "Each of us needs a personal experience troubles, grief and loss, experiences that plunge us into this abyss of despair, anguish and tears. This news comes into our hearts only through their own losses. As a school lesson not learned. I dare say: anyone who thinks that believes, not having gone through this experience of pain is mistaken. This is not faith, but only touching the faith of others".
I Wish you all Faith, Hope and Love! Merry Christmas!
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