Excerpt from "The Narrow Gate"

Excerpts from 'The Narrow Gate'#

The past is fragmented, broken, but I don't intend to connect it with fictional facts. Such embellishments would extinguish the enthusiasm of storytelling, and the last trace of interest would vanish.#

You must strive to enter the narrow gate.#

You must strive to enter the narrow gate, because the wide gate and broad road lead to destruction, and many enter through it. But the narrow gate and narrow road lead to eternal life, and only a few find it.#

This moment of inner enlightenment made me realize who I am: introverted, not very cheerful, longing for care from others but indifferent to them. I lack ambition, except for the victory of self-restraint, I have no other dreams. I enjoy studying, but when it comes to playing, I only enjoy games that require mental effort or hard work. I rarely interact with classmates of the same age, and occasionally playing with them is only to maintain friendship or out of politeness.#

"I understand completely. It means we reunite with passion at the object of our common worship. It was only to reunite with you that I worshipped what you worshipped." "Your motives for worship are impure." "Don't demand too much from me. If you're not in heaven, I won't go there either."#

I believe death can bring people closer... Yes, it can bring together those who were separated in life.#

Why do we need to get engaged? Knowing that we have each other and it will never change, isn't that enough? Why announce it to the world? If I'm willing to dedicate my life to her, do you really think we need vows to make this love more beautiful? No, promises are an insult to love for me... I only desire a marriage contract when I don't trust her.#

You are much older than me, and that worries me. You haven't had a chance to meet other women yet, maybe you haven't realized that. But I have thought about it, and if I commit myself to you and you stop loving me, I will be in great pain.#

"Just like my answer: I said I'm still too young, it's too early to talk about marriage... Unfortunately," she said with a smile, "Aunt Prudence anticipated our objections and wrote in a postscript to her letter: Mr. Edward Taisier (that's his name) agrees to wait for me. He proposed so early just to 'get in line'... It's ridiculous. But what can I do? I can't tell them he's too ugly!"#

It's clear that she enthusiastically agrees with me because she's worried about my studies, not because of any spiritual drive. I believe that evaluation, argument, and criticism are just ways of expressing thoughts, but she is the opposite, using all of these to conceal her true feelings.#

Aunt Plumtree will also disappear without a trace, leaving only a jacket behind; the brilliantly lit Christmas tree will sing the glory of the Lord like the mountains in the Bible."#

In my life, besides love, I can't find any other meaning, so I hold onto it tightly. I don't wait for anything else, and I don't want to wait.#

What a powerful magic to overcome the world, to bring me closer to God. Those who rely on others will surely encounter misfortune.#

Her previous letters seemed so joyful, but I was actually worried that she was pretending to be happy, deceiving me and herself. Her present happiness is completely different from the happiness she dreamt of in the past...#

The local scenery and people's laughter make me unhappy. What I call "melancholy" is perhaps just not as noisy as theirs. There must be some pride in my past joy...#

We have so much to say, so why is it so awkward, so artificial, so powerless, so silent? On the first day of your return, I was still happy in the face of this silence. Because I always believed it would dissipate, and before leaving, you would say something wonderful to me.#

All our communication is just a mirage. Ah! Both of our letters are written for ourselves... Oh! Jerome! Jerome! Let's be forever apart!#

I love you so deeply, yet I am so desperate. I must admit that you can see it too: the farther away you are, the more I love you. Ah, I also anticipated this! This long-awaited reunion made me fully understand it, so my friend, it is crucial for you to believe the same. Farewell, my beloved brother, may God bless and guide you. We will only avoid punishment when we reunite in His presence.#

I have learned to bear the heart-wrenching sadness and burden alone. This admonition is completely unnecessary for me.#

Let's agree on a secret signal. If you see it, it means I must leave Fingermar. And the next day, we leave without complaint or blame. Do you agree?" I wasn't prepared for this, but I said it naturally. She thought for a moment and replied, "When I go downstairs for dinner, if I'm not wearing the amethyst cross you love on my neck... then you'll understand, right?" "That will be my last night here."#

Apart from happiness, what else can the soul pursue?" I exclaimed. She whispered softly, "The divine..." Her voice was so low. It was more like something I guessed rather than heard.#

I elevated Alissa little by little, shaping her into an idol, adorning her with everything I liked. But now, apart from fatigue, what remains of this endeavor? If left to its own devices, Alissa will descend back to mediocrity, and I will be the same. If I exist on that level, I will no longer love her. In order to meet her at the same height, I raised her solely through my own efforts. This exhaustion...#

I elevated Alissa little by little, shaping her into an idol, adorning her with everything I liked. But now, apart from fatigue, what remains of this endeavor? If left to its own devices, Alissa will descend back to mediocrity, and I will be the same. If I exist on that level, I will no longer love her.#

"'They did not receive what was promised because God had something better in mind for them...' We always worry that our understanding is not thorough enough, and we are always restless."#

What makes me angry is that besides sacrificing my own happiness, she can find another path to happiness elsewhere. In other words, she can be happy without me making sacrifices. Now, Jerome has not been in touch.#

What makes me angry is that besides sacrificing my own happiness, she can find another path to happiness elsewhere. In other words, she can be happy without me making sacrifices.#

I enjoy practicing piano exercises because I feel that I make progress every day. Perhaps that's also why I enjoy reading books in foreign languages. It's not because I prefer foreign languages over my native language, nor because I think foreign authors are better than local ones. It's because understanding the meaning and emotions in a foreign language presents a slight challenge. Once I overcome it and understand better and better, there may be an unconscious sense of pride. Along with the mental pleasure, it adds a certain inexplicable satisfaction to the soul. It seems that I need this satisfaction.#

Sometimes, in order to break free from his writing rhythm, I try to write poorly. But the fact that I am opposing him also shows that I am still thinking about him.#

How mediocre and sad are the virtues I possess! Have I demanded too much of myself? Stop suffering. How weak must my will be to constantly beg God for strength! Now, my prayers are filled with gloom.#

Since this morning, my heart has been calm. Last night, I spent the whole night contemplating and praying, and suddenly, I felt a clear silence surrounding me, enveloping me. It was exactly as I imagined the Holy Spirit in my childhood. Worried that this joy was just a result of nervous excitement, I immediately lay down to sleep and quickly fell asleep. This happiness did not leave me, and it still exists this morning, without any weakening. Now I am certain that he is coming.#

Nothing that doesn't belong to God can satisfy my expectations."#

EuDs

Excerpt from "The Narrow Gate"

Excerpts from 'The Narrow Gate'#

The past is fragmented, broken, but I don't intend to connect it with fictional facts. Such embellishments would extinguish the enthusiasm of storytelling, and the last trace of interest would vanish.#

You must strive to enter the narrow gate.#

You must strive to enter the narrow gate, because the wide gate and broad road lead to destruction, and many enter through it. But the narrow gate and narrow road lead to eternal life, and only a few find it.#

"I understand completely. It means we reunite with passion at the object of our common worship. It was only to reunite with you that I worshipped what you worshipped." "Your motives for worship are impure." "Don't demand too much from me. If you're not in heaven, I won't go there either."#

I believe death can bring people closer... Yes, it can bring together those who were separated in life.#

You are much older than me, and that worries me. You haven't had a chance to meet other women yet, maybe you haven't realized that. But I have thought about it, and if I commit myself to you and you stop loving me, I will be in great pain.#

It's clear that she enthusiastically agrees with me because she's worried about my studies, not because of any spiritual drive. I believe that evaluation, argument, and criticism are just ways of expressing thoughts, but she is the opposite, using all of these to conceal her true feelings.#

Aunt Plumtree will also disappear without a trace, leaving only a jacket behind; the brilliantly lit Christmas tree will sing the glory of the Lord like the mountains in the Bible."#

In my life, besides love, I can't find any other meaning, so I hold onto it tightly. I don't wait for anything else, and I don't want to wait.#

What a powerful magic to overcome the world, to bring me closer to God. Those who rely on others will surely encounter misfortune.#

Her previous letters seemed so joyful, but I was actually worried that she was pretending to be happy, deceiving me and herself. Her present happiness is completely different from the happiness she dreamt of in the past...#

The local scenery and people's laughter make me unhappy. What I call "melancholy" is perhaps just not as noisy as theirs. There must be some pride in my past joy...#

We have so much to say, so why is it so awkward, so artificial, so powerless, so silent? On the first day of your return, I was still happy in the face of this silence. Because I always believed it would dissipate, and before leaving, you would say something wonderful to me.#

All our communication is just a mirage. Ah! Both of our letters are written for ourselves... Oh! Jerome! Jerome! Let's be forever apart!#

I have learned to bear the heart-wrenching sadness and burden alone. This admonition is completely unnecessary for me.#

Apart from happiness, what else can the soul pursue?" I exclaimed. She whispered softly, "The divine..." Her voice was so low. It was more like something I guessed rather than heard.#

"'They did not receive what was promised because God had something better in mind for them...' We always worry that our understanding is not thorough enough, and we are always restless."#

What makes me angry is that besides sacrificing my own happiness, she can find another path to happiness elsewhere. In other words, she can be happy without me making sacrifices. Now, Jerome has not been in touch.#

What makes me angry is that besides sacrificing my own happiness, she can find another path to happiness elsewhere. In other words, she can be happy without me making sacrifices.#

Sometimes, in order to break free from his writing rhythm, I try to write poorly. But the fact that I am opposing him also shows that I am still thinking about him.#

How mediocre and sad are the virtues I possess! Have I demanded too much of myself? Stop suffering. How weak must my will be to constantly beg God for strength! Now, my prayers are filled with gloom.#

Nothing that doesn't belong to God can satisfy my expectations."#

"Do you want to forget earlier?" "I want to never forget."#