little epiphanies

Rather than expounding on my own faults and going in-depth into my own personal problems, I am going to borrow some gems of wisdom from one of my favorite books. I figure it's more conducive to my spiritual life to find edifying advice instead of delving into the inner reaches of my darkened soul! :)
(Quotes taken from Precious Vessels of the Holy Spirit: The Lives & Counsels of Contemporary Elders of Greece)

"Often when someone throws a rock at a dog, rather than rushing at the person who threw the stone, the dog will run and bite the stone. We do the same thing. The tempter uses someone else to tempt us, either in word or deed, and, rather than deal with teh tempter, who threw the stone, we bite the rock, our fellow man the the hater of the good used against us." (Elder Amphilochios, p. 61)

"When someone is free, he has rights and responsibilities. When he marries, he has few rights and very many responsibilities. When, however, he has children, he doesn't have any rights at all, but only responsibilities." (Elder Epiphanios, p. 75)

"Sadness purifies us. Man is truly man in sadness. In joy he is changed, he becomes someone else. In sadness he becomes that which he truly is. And this is the way, par excellence, that he approaches God. He senses his weakness. Many times, when he is in glory and joy, he feels that he is the "eye of the earth" or, if you prefer, the center of the universe: "I am, and nobody else!"
In pain and sadness he feels like an insignificant ant in the universe, that he is completely dependent, and he seeks the help and companionship of God. Those of us who have passed through pains, either psychical or physical, know that we never prayed as hard and with such quality and length, as we did when we were in the bed of pain or when some heavy psychical sadness tested us. While, when we have everything, we forget prayer and fasting, and many things. It is for this reason that God allows pain." (Elder Epiphanios, p. 76-77)