Decisions

51. The foolish man under attack from the passions, when stirred to anger, is senselessly impelled to leave his brethren. But when heated by desire he quickly changes his mind and seeks their company. An intelligent person behaves differently in both cases. When anger flares up he cuts off the source of disturbance and so frees himself from his feeling of irritation against his brethren. When desire is uppermost he checks every unruly impulse and chance conversation.

St. Maximus the Confessor Four Hundred Centuries on Love: #51

In the grand theater of human interactions, then, every soul acts out its part according to the script of its inner dispositions and the provocations that seem to come from without. There is the lively setting of all the passions pulling at the heartstrings in all directions. And this becomes the cause of scenes either in harmony or in discord. Two figures step forward from the wings among the actors: the foolish man, herded into blind motion by the untamed forces of his passions, and the wise man, who walks through tumult with his sense of moderation and charm.

Picture the foolish man as a vessel on the high seas, rudderless and at the mercy of the storm. When the gales of anger lash against his sails, he finds himself driven far from the safe harbour of brotherhood, isolating himself in the tempest's fury. Yet, when the winds shift and the warm breezes of desire come to blow, this very same vessel changes direction in haste as he seeks that very companionship which he had with disdain spurned. On the other hand, it is a journey of extremes, the capricious whims of passion as his master, leaving him adrift and without direction.

Compare to the wise man steers his ship with the steady hand of wisdom. And rising in the face of such a surge of anger, he does not let himself be carried along on the flow of irritation. He looks for the source of the disturbance, as a good pilot finds and steers away from hidden reefs that endanger his boat. And thus by cutting off these provocations, he keeps his passage calm, preserving the bond with his brethren in its old condition, undissolved by the storms of discord.

And when the warm currents of desire seek to entice him off course, he does not succumb to their seductive pull. He scrutinizes the sails of impulse and steers away from vain talk, being very wary that in moments unguarded there might be danger. The above is just an example of utilizing the right application of discipline, which stands as his compass, and steers him unwavering through treacherous waters, ensuring his journey holds purpose and integrity. It is a deep reflection on the virtues of self-control and discernment, constructed by means of the allegory of navigation. The fool without them is at the mercy of passions that lead him to the path of inconsistency and turmoil. The wise man, however, knows that real strength is in the mastery of oneself. By exercising restraint, he not only preserves his own peace but also upholds the harmony of his community.

In our own lives, we also are sailors on the sea of human emotions, confronted with the choice of how to act in response to the passions which assail us. Let's be inspired by the wise, choosing the way of wisdom and restraint. For in doing so, we steer not only those transient storms of the moment but also chart a course toward life in the abiding peace and creation of meaningful connections.