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It can seem like life is simply a popularity contest: most people strive to be more liked, more noticed, more “successful” than others around them. But Archimandrite Sophrony tells us that we need to be concerned about the only opinion that matters:
Christ gave us the commandment to love others but did not make it a condition of salvation that they should love us. Indeed, we may positively be disliked for independence of spirit. It is essential in these days to be able to protect ourselves from the influence of those with whom we come in contact. Otherwise we risk losing both faith and prayer. Let the whole world dismiss us as unworthy of attention, trust or respect—it will not matter provided that the Lord accepts us.
