AN HOUR OF OBEDIENCE GOD

"Lord is everywhere. Try to obey God in small things. Try to do for His face all things, that you do every day. Just try. If you sit, or stay, or lie, or look, or answer, or speak, or have relation to your neighbor, or think and so on, try to do all this things at God commandment, as for God him-self, because God is truly everywhere. Through Him we live and move and exist. Try to do it at least one hour every day. Why don't you obey God one hour every day?"

This wise advice I read in the book of abbot Nikon (Vo-robev), who departed to God in 1963 - "The penitence is left to us", that was composed from his letters to his spiritual children.

- Why don't you obey God one hour every day? -

Thank you, father. . . I will try once. -

Don't try once, but begin today, right now. Notice the time and start with God's help.

I looked at my watch: it was 7.04. It was the time to pre-pare to go home. (I was in Summer cottage). Quickly I cut fennel, parsley and other greens, picked several cucumbers and put the book above it. Then I came out of the gate and stopped. . . I felt, that I do something wrong. Yes! I forgot to cross myself, when I started the way. Forgive me, Lord! And still there is a prayer "Before leaving the home". I cop-ied it three days ago to memorize. But I didn't memorize it yet. I found the piece of paper with the prayer in my pocket and read: "I deny you, Satan, your pride and to serve you and I connect you Christ, in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen". I made the sign of the cross and set off the way.

I walked, but there were a lot of thoughts in my head. And all of them were about the neighbors: these turn on the ra-dio very loud and those don't came at all and their garden was overgrown. Stop, stop! Lord forgive me, impious person, I am hundred times worse myself, as my neighbors. Let me lower my eyes down ("If you don't find something, at least you will not stumble",- told me my mother in the same situation). Yes, I will lower my eyes and pray Jesus prayer.

- Lord Jesus Christ, God's Son, have mercy upon me, sin-ner.

I wrapped up deep in the prayer and didn't notice, how I came home. At home a had my supper. There were many bones in fish soup, but this time I didn't grumble about it, that I would certainly do usually. And I didn't forgot to thank God after the supper. My relatives watched TV and I went to my room to read the book "The penitence is left to us" farther. Suddenly I heard grandmother's voice:

- Grandpa, did you bring me burdocks? (She put it to her sore knees).

"Did you beg me?" - I already wanted to be snappish. But I remembered, that an hour of obedience God is not finished yet and answered peacefully: -

Forgive me, please, I forgot. I will put on my shoes and bring you burdocks immediately.

But it was not necessary. While I put on my shoes, she found burdocks on the balcony. I had a look at my watch: it was 8.04. Exactly one hour I was in obedience God. My soul was easy and happy. I decided to spend such an hour every day. But it was already two weeks ago and I was not able to spend an hour of obedience God yet. Something disturbed me always: guests came, or I had tooth ache, or at appointed hour I fell suddenly asleep.

Father Nikon, pray for me, miserable sinner, and help to realize you wise advice.

ALEKSEI LOGUNOV, Novomoskovsk