Monday, July 4, 2011

I never regretted anything

From Leo Tolstoy's short story Two Old Men:

Efím became thoughtful.

'I've spent a lot of money on this building,' he said 'and one can't start on the journey with empty pockets. We shall want a hundred roubles apiece -- and it's no small sum.'

Elisha laughed. 'Now, come, come, old friend!' he said, 'you have ten times as much as I, and yet you talk about money. Only say when we are to start, and though I have nothing now I shall have enough by then.'

Efím also smiled.


'Dear me, I did not know you were so rich!' said he. 'Why, where will you get it from?'


'I can scrape some together at home, and if that's not enough, I'll sell half a score of hives to my neighbour. He's long been wanting to buy them.'


'If they swarm well this year, you'll regret it.'

'Regret it! Not I, neighbour! I never regretted anything in my life, except my sins. There's nothing more precious than the soul.'

'That's so; still it's not right to neglect things at home.'

'But what if our souls are neglected? That's worse. We took the vow, so let us go! Now, seriously, let us go!'

I found the following line very engrossing: 'Regret it! Not I, neighbour! I never regretted anything in my life, except my sins. There's nothing more precious than the soul.'. What is their to regret outside of sin and its consequences in us and on this planet? Sin is our separation from God; it is the bar that pried us from our Creator. It is the wedge that separated us from our Father. It is the match that ignites God's wrath towards us. And it is the subduing and slaying of sin which required the sacrifice of our Saviour. I also appreciate the focus it puts on what is of real consequence: For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel's will save it.For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul? (Mark 8:35-36 ESV)

No comments:

Post a Comment