If you want to be fruitful, die

[Acts 17:19–28; John 12:19–36] Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit (John 12:24). And so, if you want to be fruitful, die. Die in a real way, bearing always the feeling in your heart that you have already died. Just as a dead man does not respond to anything surrounding him, so do the same: if they praise you — be silent, and if they rebuke you — be silent, and if you make a profit — be silent; if you are full —be silent, or hungry — be silent. Be this way to all external things; in?wardly abide in the place where all the dead abide — in the other life, before the all-righteous face of God, preparing to hear the final sen?tence. You may say, what fruit can come everything dying? No, nothing will die. Rather, abundant energy will appear! “I have but one minute remaining,” you will say to yourself. “Now will come the verdict; let me hurry to do something;” and you will do it. And thus continue every minute.

Saint Theophan the Recluse