Question: Saint John of the Ladder says that the time of our life is not sufficient for us to have both friendships and tears; we must choose either the one or the other. How can we do that?

Question: 

Saint John of the Ladder says that the time of our life is not sufficient for us to have both friendships and tears; we must choose either the one or the other. How can we do that?

Father archimandrite Peter, Egoumen of Essex Monastery: 

Although we have the false impression that we will live eternally on earth, our time is very short and insufficient for both friendships and tears. It does not mean that we should not be friendly with those around us, but that our heart must not attach itself to people and things of this world. Our God is a jealous God, and He wants our whole heart. 

However, here is a mystery🔖: if we give our whole heart to God, then His will becomes our own, and our heart is enlarged to embrace all the others without passion, through Christ and not through ourselves. 

When we make friendships with ourselves at the centre, such friendships are a platform for satisfying our passions and vainglory. 

The saints redeemed not only the time of their own life but also the time of the lives of their fellows.

From Pemptousia website