Something I'd like to share

As I was reading the life of Leo Tolstoy, it occurred to me that a lot of people stop believing in Jesus when they lose interest or faith in the people preaching to them or their role-models. Many youth shy from leadership of a prayer group/intercessory team due to fear of failure to be perfect (Matt:5:48 - "Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.)

To his critics, Tolstoy replied, "Don't judge God's holy ideals by my inability to meet them." He said, "Don't judge Christ by those of us who imperfectly bear his name." At times, on-lookers hold on to what they have seen/heard of a priest/preacher, little realizing that they grope on successfully to Satan's bait of destruction - when a rumor grows into gossip and gossip becomes the virtual identity of someone who might painstakingly cling to his Christian mission.

To such blamers Tolstoy says, "Attack me, I do this myself, but attack me rather than the path I follow and which I point out to anyone who asks me here I think it lies. If I know the way home and am walking along it drunkenly, is it any less the right was because I am staggering from side to side! If it is not the right way then show me another way; but if I stager ad lose the way, you must help me, you must keep me on the true path, just as I am ready to support you. Do not mislead me, do not be glad that I have got lost, do not shout out joyfully: 'Look at him! He said he was going home but there he is crawling into a bog!' No, do not gloat, but give me your help and support."

Tolstoy's relentless pursuit of authentic faith is diluted by the life he led, yet his struggles provide an X-ray vision to the human heart.

By Venora