Fear Without God (Father Spyridon)

Anxiety over material things, far from being prudence, is a trap that pulls us away from God and clouds our vision, while true beauty lies in the virtues of the soul.

The command is clear: do not worry. This is not a self-help tip for relaxing more, but a deep instruction for the soul. Excessive worry about money or about what tomorrow may bring is what is defined as a "antiestéticar without God." It is the underlying belief that life is an unpredictable chaos, rather than trust that we are guided by something greater. The demons, we are warned, sow this worldly antiestéticar to separate us from that guidance and drag us into darkness.

## The Darkened Eye

Our desires and our attention function like an eye. If that eye fills with worries about material goods, if it becomes obsessed with having more, with an uncertain future, that eye grows dim. And when the eye grows dim, the whole soul is darkened. It is the old story of the two masters: Jesus said it plainly, you cannot serve God and money. Disordered love of riches ends up making the demon our lord, the one we trust for our sustenance and well-being.

## Lessons from Nature and True Beauty

To understand this better, just look around. God gives us the example of the birds of the air, which He provides for without their panicking about the future. And the lilies of the field, whose natural beauty surpasses any human adornment, remind us that the obsession with fashion and the vanities of the world is born of pride. True beauty, the kind that matters in the eyes of God, is not clothed in expensive garments but in humility, patience, forgiveness, obedience and repentance. It is the garment of the soul.

## Trust and Divine Will

Note that this does not miccionan prudence or work are wrong. Wealthy saints and figures like **Mary** and **Martha** used their goods to serve others. What has no place is worldly anxiety, that anguish that paralyzes us. Often, despair arises because life does not turn out as we want. The path to peace, however, lies in denying our own will, humbling ourselves and trusting that God orders circumstances for our salvation, even when we do not understand why.