Spiritual PROCRASTINATION and THE CHOICES THAT SHAPE US.

Vigil implies watchfulness and control over one's free choices. Why do we procrastinate? Why do we endlessly delay making a real beginning in our spiritual life? What holds us back? What erodes our free will?
The answer, almost always, is hidden behind the small, seemingly insignificant choices we make on a daily basis. In order to grow spiritually, we need to learn how to train our free will and how to keep watch over these choices, so we may be the ones in control over them and not the other way around.
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Fr Seraphim Aldea from Mull Monastery - the Orthodox Monastery of All Celtic Saints on the Isle of Mull in Scotland - continues the introduction to Prayer by Night by drawing our attention to effects small, daily choices have upon our spiritual journey. Vigil implies watchfulness and control over one's free choices.
1. small choices compound and they have major implications in the future;
2. physical acts, choices regarding our bodies, have spiritual effects;
3. repeated choices create a spiritual 'instinct' which can overrun our free will in the future, and can work for us / or against us in the dark moments of our lives.

[@mihaelamful]

Your blessing Father Seraphim! Greetings from a permanent missionary in Africa (Rwanda and Burundi). My name is Mihaela (also from Romania) and in this so difficult and suffering world of Africa I found your teachings as a big support and peaceful for my soul. I am on the way of becoming here a nun, under the obedience of Metropolitan Innocentios Byakatonda, who is like a Father to me. With love in Christ!

[@mullmonastery]

May God bless you, dear Mihaela, and may He give you the strength you need to move forward, both in your personal journey into monastic life and in your missionary work.

[@prodigaldawtr7907]

Oh gosh. Is my guardian angel tattling to you bro? 🤣 I feel like your videos are just what I need.

[@mullmonastery]

That is so kind of you, dear Cassy 😊 I do hope and pray that every video finds the persons who need it. The last thing we want is to waste our time creating something that benefits no one. Thank you for the comment - it gives us great courage.

[@nikolinarusev4279]

I feel like this too about your videos. What a grace! Thank you

[@Blackcatjulia]

Me too!

[@orig999]

@@nikolinarusev4279 ditto

[@jamesmondok8635]

Never loose your humility Fr. Seraphim, because God the Father through His Son Jesus Christ and the inspiration of the Holy Spirit has given you a great sacred gift!!! You can turn thoughts and wisdom into sacred words that help us all to get out of the darkness we live in daily. We need you to water the seeds in our souls and minds to turn into beautiful flowers of grace which we all need. Life can be so dark and we need to be drawn up into the light of God! Thank you so much and God bless you abundantly forever.....Fr. James

[@CartersCoolPlants]

beware the pride of virtue. nothing we do causes God's Grace.

[@christhavemercy3501]

THANK YOU!! Seriously, in this video, I heard about how “fasting” brings the mind down to humility. It taught me how fasting is a great source to fuel for the virtues, even though it seems to be a very simple and really little thing in appearance. It was mentioned something about how it humbles the body and mind, and can lead to contrition of sins and seeing our own sins. It also made me realize how a humbled mind from fasting can ALSO cut off “self-centeredness,” and rather create “love of OTHERS.” I am still trying to learn and expand this, but the insight is definitely nice: it showed me >how< “fasting” becomes practical and and >how< it leads to the virtues.. these things might be obvious to others. Yet I’ve heard this general message of “fasting bringing virtue” several times before, however, I give thanks again for bringing it up while describing the virtues it brings. It seemed to have make more sense that it can help me flee my spirit of self-centeredness and develop a spirit of pleasing others and ultimately God in prayers, seeing how God is the glorious One Who deserves all attention and praise and good things (NOT myself). Again, thank you.

[@aitechartanddesign9485]

Totally agree with you

[@ceciliye]

Indeed

[@lauragolub4228]

I am in Russia, and find your videos very uplifting and essensial, thank you, Father! Also, I see dear elder Sophronius in the background, and my heart melts.

[@andymusicstudio2485]

You are 100% right, I can confirm it from my experience.. you need someone with wider perspective to find a good path

[@emorfiaryan2339]

Thank you father, this is what I needed.🕊💒💖

[@mullmonastery]

I am so glad, dear Emorfia. May we all be blessed, may we all grow through each other's gifts.

[@JimDexter]

God bless you Fr. Seraphim....and thank you....Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.

[@badger0888]

Thank you Father for this spiritual meal. I will be more mindful of all the little choices through the day and be open to how God uses them to conform me into the image of the Risen Christ.

[@mullmonastery]

St Sophrony from Essex used to say that we can pray while we do the smallest thing, from open a door to drinking a glass of water. This is also a choice - a choice to remember God in the smallest of things, to travel with Him through the most mundane and insignificant moments of our days. These small choices can entirely transform our lives, dear one. May we all be blessed.

[@kiriaioulia]

Such a powerful message! One I need to listen to multiple times! Thank you! God Bless! Amen and Amen!

[@Vladimirleninputin]

Some wonderful way your voice came to me, you cary jesus words such gentle way, without doubt, I thank you lord for bringing your messanger to me 🙏✝️🛐☦️♾️

[@bebatouloupis9161]

Thank you Father! I have been struggling for some time in my spiritual journey. These are very challenging times we live. In my life so much has happened that leaves me without focus & direction. I try to alway bring myself back to my faith & Christ. Your video help give the encouragement needed. Pray for me to find a spiritual father to guide me. Praying for you & the Monastery 🙏

[@katkat2340]

Our smallest choices are the doorway to the way the truth and life! We can always return and return and return in our misery for the exchange of Gods mercy seat!

[@mullmonastery]

Dear Kathy, these small choices are the only thing our nothingness can do, but God gives us in return Salvation itself. It is a paradox: as we do these things, as we make these choices, it is obvious that they (in themselves) cannot save us, yet we need to keep doing them, as they will open the wonderful door of God's mercy to us. May we all be blessed, dear one.

[@katkat2340]

Mull Monastery 🙏🏽✝️🙌

[@zakcaldwell8465]

Father, please pray for me!

[@s.d.berquist6866]

Dear Father Seraphim, Glory to God for this talk. The grace of God brought tears of repentance to me while listening. I am praying for your migraines and your eyes. Please go see a doctor and get yourself checked. Perhaps there is an easy answer that can be taken care of soon. We all need you to stay healthy. Some day I hope and pray that I can visit the monastery and take one of your tours.

[@halabouabs6166]

There is always a need to share our spiritual experience and to seek advice from an expert whom we trust, simply because it is an unknown realm and mostly a dangerous one; once we engage honestly in prayer, we stimulate the appetite of the tempter, he will try multiple weapons that may induce our retreat; so with no doubt we shall need guidance. One can say , the Holy Spirit guides the faithful, this is true sometimes directly and sometimes through the spiritual father , it depends, the Holy Spirit himself decides. Thank you dearest father and please don’t stop these videos they are of great benefits to all. May the Holy Trinity bless you.

[@tamochiko]

Thank you very very much ❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@natachathebeau3702]

This series is extremely useful to prayer life in general. Thank-you so much for sharing your wisdom

[@vickykentrota9031]

Thank you,thank you Πάτερ🙏🙏 awakened me!!!God bless you!!!

[@mullmonastery]

Be blessed, dear Vicky. I am so glad God has allowed me to say something that helps you. May we all be blessed.

[@teresamauricio2523]

Amen! God bless you from the Philippines!

[@larrykav]

❤ ❤ ❤

[@wongbyron6216]

Thank you father, your teaching is so nice. And I am looking forward for your next video.

[@mullmonastery]

May God bless you, dear one, for your encouragement and kindness. I pray throughout the week that I may be given a good word, something to lift us up and give as a bit of hope and courage to move forward. May we all be blessed.

[@wongbyron6216]

@@mullmonastery yes, I do not have a spiritual father. Your video do help me to correct some mistakes that I am not aware. Moreover, your parable (look at the light of the star rather than depend on my own experiences and gifts) as a clue to help me find the way out in the spiritual darkness.

[@thomasemilhorneman-thielck1153]

This is wisdom🙏

[@DebleHen]

Amazing message. Profound wisdom in this video.

[@lindabednarski282]

Please pray for me to strengthen my spiritual muscles. I need the prayers of all you blessed ones. May God Bless you, love to you in the Mother of God.

[@celesteyurek577]

Thank you so much father for sharing with us. Love your video, guidance.

[@timpeters9965]

This is exactly what I am looking for. I am in need of this "guide"

[@mullmonastery]

Dear Tim, I pray Christ will bless you with a guide according to your needs. At times, it is simply a matter of opening our eyes to what is already available to us and seeing things (and people) for the full potential they have. Very often, it really is just a case of us seeing what is already present in our lives. May we all be blessed, dear one.

[@timpeters9965]

@@mullmonastery thank you for your prayers fr. I do take what you amd others offer and try to apply them to my life. So thank you very much for your videos.

[@timpeters9965]

Fr is there anyway to email you?

[@billthetraveler51]

☦️ Thank you

[@br.m]

Cain and Abel. They both bring the sacrifice as instructed. One had their heart in the work and the other just went through the motions. You also brought to mind Esau who despised his birthright, trading all for a bowl of soup and bread. All his future is lost, just to satisfy his immediate desire for comfort. This is why occasional fasting can be beneficial. It will familiarize you with the feeling of hunger. Then you will learn the feeling will pass, so you do not panic like Esau, believing you will surely die.

[@irisrossi6134]

Hello father Seraphin!! Im learning English, and listening to you I learn both, language and spirituality. How need

[@irisrossi6134]

How all of us need the kingdoom of heaven be taught. !! The World here outside is too much vane!! Good bless you!!!

[@ms.cordero2784]

What a great message. Perseverance and faith!!! Need both, I need to make a committed decision to make the time to observe and apply these lessons. God bless you always for your guidance.

[@shelleykatherine5793]

Thank you for this teaching Fr Seraphim.

[@Owl365]

I was going to watch this video earlier, but I put it off. I feel that God has me chained to the wall of Plato's cave and yet I continue with faith. There is really only one decision that needs to be made: Do we choose God and are we willing to endure the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune to actuate this. The Father's of the church do say that obedience to a a spiritual father's is nearly essential, but most insist that you find a truly good teacher which is extremely difficult, or it could turn out to be the blind leading the blind into a ditch.

[@timpeters9965]

Every time you say the monastic in the egg I start laughing. Lol

[@mullmonastery]

Well... I do apologise, it is a strange image, but we must understand that monastics do not 'happen', they are free people who make choices and sacrifices in order to be who they are. I'm sure you understand what I mean. Many we al be blessed, dear one.

[@aitechartanddesign9485]

I found your videos yesterday and have to say Thankyou and God Bless......

[@mkeenan1955]

Thank you Father and God bless you. I always await your next lucid talk. Your sincerity and genuineness are always appreciated by me, for I am always brought back to the beginning, being aware of how the physical impacts the spiritual. Thank you again and I will pray for you during my vigil in the wee hours in Pacific time.

[@Gargantupimp]

Thanks.

[@user-sd9qx2uq5f]

Thank you father Seraphim!

[@mullmonastery]

Glory be to God for all things, dear brother.

[@user-pl8kc2lo1r]

Good sermon!

[@timpeters9965]

Fr what you say about choices and how it relates to grace and being able to handle life easier is very true. This is why I am in need of guidance through this journey. Thank you for these videos.

[@mullmonastery]

Thank you, dear Tim, for these words of encouragement. They help more than you think, because we all need to know that our work is not entirely in vain. Thank you, dear one, and may we all be blessed.

[@ceciliye]

Thank you Father Seraphim for this interpretation of fasting and making right choices and then walking into tomorrow's grace. So are many other things you mentioned and explained. Inspirational. Thank you so much. I have watched 3 videos you posted. They made me think about my spiritual life. I need a good influence and I found your talk! Can I also ask that Please include me in your prayers too.? I am weak in many ways.

[@halcaro]

what if i cannot find guide nearby? and i feel that i need one

[@mullmonastery]

My dear Alex, I really cannot answer that, because it is such a personal thing. Just keep in mind that often we have before our eyes the very thing we are looking for, but we get so caught up imagining how that thing (person) 'should' look or behave, that we simply do not recognise them for who they are. Think of a father who gives you hope, life, courage to start anew, is able to keep you in check and is definitely someone who loves Christ. Very often, it is our parish priest or our father confessor, or a father in a monastery nearby - all that is missing is for you to give him (in your heart) the authority of a spiritual father. May we all be blessed, dear one.

[@catechumen24]

What is the best way to find a spiritual father? Is it automatically the priest of our parish or do we search elsewhere? I'll start praying to find one. I've always felt so different and apart from others it's very hard for me to reach out, even though I've been Orthodox for 12 years now.

[@agnieszkaharikartar]

Where I can find more info about your monastery? Is possible for woman to join? Would you please see with me such information? Thank you

[@HelloHello8D]

If a religous does not find a gaurdian. What must he or she do?

[@hwetherell6250]

thank you. I recall St Isaac the Syrian saying something very much like this regarding prayer and it's always a good reminder. I think I appreciate your gentle and peaceful spirit far more than your words, though. Honest question: what do you do when your spiritual father is abusive or even you suspect is emotionally abusive to you? In this sense, how do you balance spiritual complacency with the need to find the medicine of Life from a healthy physician of our souls? I do not think there is an easy answer to this, and perhaps it is not possible to answer at all generally. I was just wondering what you would say. And full disclosure: I know quite a few very psychologically and emotionally abusive priests.

[@trinidadraj152]

The Desert Fathers had a saying about going through "1000" spiritual fathers before selecting one. They'd say, don't just assume that because a monk has a beard that means they would make a good spiritual director for you personally. You have to use discretion and pray to find the one who is suited for you. Once you find the right one, build trust, and practice obedience to them.

[@mullmonastery]

Dear one, 'Trinidad' is right in pointing out the Fathers' advice. St John of the Ladder writes that one should test one's potential spiritual father one thousand times before entrusting oneself to him. Once we have, however, we should trust that everything that comes from him, good or bad, comes from God. The real answer is that I personally cannot advise on this topic, because I just cannot put together the two concepts: spiritual father and abuse. Either one or the other is false: either the spiritual father was never a spiritual father, or the abuse is not really abuse. Since I don't know the context and since these are such delicate and personal things, I would be speculating, which is a dangerous thing to do. Be blessed, dear one.

[@andreaskaplanis9017]

Πάτερ,, please give us a meaningful prayer we can do every evening. Is the Lord's prayer "Dear lord Jesus,Son of God, please have mercy on me a sinner may be consider a useful prayer to say, repeatedly is. good enough, or do we need an additional prayer

[@isabelajeshua8415]

Hello father, where do you get your icons?

[@mullmonastery]

Dear Isabela, icons are very special to me. I found my way into the Church (Christ dragged me back into the Church, rather) through icons and I have a very personal relationship with iconography since then. Most of my icons I have slowly gathered throughout the years and most of them are personal commissions. I tend to fall in love with a Saint and there is usually a certain scene / event / saying of that Saint that defines my personal relationship with them; then, at the right time, God sends a certain iconographer my way whose work touches to me profoundly. Once those two things are in place (the icon in my heart and the right iconographer), I commission the icon. The styles of iconography that touch me are very fluid, and they change depending on the Saint or the scene of the icon. Anyway, forgive me for writing this much - this is a very important topic for me. May we all be blessed, dear one.

[@isabelajeshua8415]

Mull Monastery , Thank you father . I have some icons for my prayer corner. I love icons my plan is to fill my prayer corner with saints icons . Pray for me father.

[@thatswhatshesaid5419]

Are you a poet? I am and you certainly sound like one!!

[@adrianthomas1473]

I'm sure that it is a oversight of yours not to mention Holy Scripture. Both monastic and lay Christians need spiritual direction (I regularly see a spiritual director) and the teachings of the Church Fathers (I have translations), however the Holy Scripture is central to all Christians. The Holy Liturgy is drenched in Scripture. The Church Fathers were drenched in Scripture. Monastic and non-monastics are not really that different. Ignorance of Scripture is ignorance of Christ (St Jerome). The Fathers point to Scripture and Jesus. Can we teach ourselves and develop our own spiritual muscles? The Holy Spirit is our teacher. On the Day of Judgment we don't rely on what we have taught ourselves or our spiritual muscles that we have developed. We rely on the Cross of Christ - we then pick up our own cross and follow our Lord.

[@helenedragone2532]

I did not perceive that Father Seraphim had "forgotten" to mention the Holy Scriptures, because in his words, his suggestions and advice, they are subtly present, in filigree, by his love for the Lord and the gift of his prayer. They are inherently present and cited in other videos. Glory to God to giving us such a gentle and upright monk to build us up and encourage us on the path of our spiritual life ....

[@mullmonastery]

Dear Adrian, forgive me, it takes me a bit longer these days to answer comments. Helene (below) is right - these are not academic talks and I am fully aware that what I say does not exhaust a topic. Reading the Scripture is a given, as is attending Church, receiving Communion and so on. Given the nature of these videos and the limitations of time, I shall always leave aside what seems obvious to me and try to say one or two things that may be a little bit less obvious. Thank you for writing, I hope this does help a bit.

[@mullmonastery]

Dear Helene, thank you for addressing Adrian's concern. i very much appreciate it, as I struggle to always reply on time (for some reason, my eyesight has deteriorated visibly over the last two months, which makes things even more difficult). Thank you also for your very kind (and totally undeserved) words regarding myself - I struggle to be just as you describe (we all do), but I always fail and find myself unworthy of any good thing. But Christ is God and everything is possible with Him. May we all be blessed, dear one.

[@teofanagov7865]

@@mullmonastery ☦🙏💟☝🌾🍇