PARADISE NOW / ASCETICAL HOMILIES AND VIGNETTES Wednesday Oct 22/Nov 4ns/ 2026 - R E F L E C T I O N

 

Ascetical homilies are the God-given fruits of guidance and agape granted to those who in asceticism, from the apostles on, gave and give all of their life and love to Christ and His two salvific commands.  If we, in turn, contemplate and reflect on those gifts, they bring crucial clarity not only to scripture, (which can at times be difficult to comprehend and apply for the fallen mind), but also bring clarity to our own personal spiritual status as we take up the Cross and transcend from transient darkness to the Eternal Light of of the Holy Trinity.

R E F L E C T I O N

St. Nikolai

As much as the strictness of holy men toward themselves is a cause for amazement, so also is their compassion toward others. They have disinterest for themselves, and concern for others. St. Hilarion the Great, unable to pay his fare to Sicily, offered the owner of the ship his Gospel (which he, in his youth, had copied with his own hands). When he had cured a certain prince of an unclean spirit, the prince wanted to present him with ten liters of gold. The saint would not accept the gold, but showed him barley bread and said: “Those who feed on this kind of bread look upon gold as mud!” When men begged him to pray to God for rain, or to save them from floods or poisonous snakes, St. Hilarion helped them by his prayer. This is how St. Abérkios acted as well. Seeing many people in pain and sickness, he knelt in a certain place and prayed to God that He would open up a spring of warm, healing water there, that the infirm might be healed and glorify God. God then opened a spring of warm water on that spot. When Abérkios healed the emperor’s daughter of insanity, the emperor offered him gold, silver and other gifts, but St. Abérkios said: “Riches are not needed for one who considers bread and water a royal meal.” Not seeking anything for himself, Abérkios nevertheless begged the emperor to do two favors for his flock in Hierapolis: to build a bath over those healing waters, and to give sufficient wheat each year to the poor of Hierapolis. The emperor agreed and did according to the saint’s request.

A personal vignette of Righteous Job

IF YOU LOVE;

YOU WILL COMFORT

Job was extremely wealthy and had a most blessed large family yet he genuinely loved God above all of it. The fallen angel Lucifer aka Satan, who hates God and us, spoke boldly to God saying that Job didn't love Him but only acted like it because of all the gifts He had given him. When God the Father told Satan he was wrong, Satan challenged and said then take everything away from him, and you will see that he doesn't care about You. God the Father complied and even went so far as allow great physical suffering on Job.

Job, being a man of God would preach the glorification of God. Job had friends who were also very wealthy. And when they saw Job's poverty and suffering they criticized him saying: you preach to us, now practice what you preach. 

 In the end, Job never lost faith and loved God all the more. And what did the Father do as a result? Not only did He restore Job's health, but all his wealth and family. But pay close attention to how God dealt with Job's friends, who told him to practice what he preached. The Father chastised his friends and since they did not comfort Job but rather judged him, He took all of their riches from them and gave them to Job.

We call ourselves Christians. A Christian turns his other cheek, a Christian gives his cloak when someone asks for his coat and a Christian comforts and doesn't judge.

By the grace and love of our Lord, may He always remind us to be a comfort to one another

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PARADISE NOW / ASCETICAL HOMILIES AND VIGNETTES Tuesday Oct 21/Nov 3 ns /2026 / THE DEFINITION OF FASTING

 

Ascetical homilies are the God-given fruits of guidance and agape granted to those who in asceticism, from the apostles on, gave and give all of their life and love to Christ and His two salvific commands.  If we, in turn, contemplate and reflect on those gifts, they bring crucial clarity not only to scripture, (which can at times be difficult to comprehend and apply for the fallen mind), but also bring clarity to our own personal spiritual status as we take up the Cross and transcend from transient darkness to the Eternal Light of of the Holy Trinity.

THE DEFINITION OF FASTING

There is heroism above heroism and asceticism above asceticism. Saint Epiphanius of Cyprus invited Hilarion the Great to dinner and in order to show the greatest hospitality to his distinguished guest, placed fried chicken on the table and offered it to him. Hilarion said to him: "Forgive me, but ever since I was tonsured a monk, I have eaten nothing butchered." To that Epiphanius replied: "And I, ever since I was tonsured a monk, have never lay down in bed until I first forgave my enemy." Amazed, Hilarion said: "Your virtue is greater than mine, Oh holy master!" This is a great lesson for all of us. Fasting is an admirable thing but it is more admirable to forgive insults.

Through fasting, man is preparing for charity (love) but, by forgiving insults, man shows love. Fasting precedes forgiveness but fasting alone, does not save without forgiveness.

None today

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PARADISE NOW / ASCETICAL HOMILIES AND VIGNETTES Monday Oct 20/Nov 2 ns /2026 / From St Basil the Great - PSALMS

 

The following is a beautiful quote from St. Basil the Great on the Psalms, which to this day, make up the majority of the hymns and services of the Orthodox Church.

When, indeed, the Holy Spirit saw that the human race was guided only with difficulty toward virtue, and that, because of our inclination toward pleasure, we were neglectful of an upright life, what did He do? The delight of melody He mingled with the doctrines so that by the pleasantness and softness of the sound heard we might receive without perceiving it the benefit of the words, just as wise physicians who, when giving the fastidious rather bitter drugs to drink, frequently smear the cup with honey.

Therefore, He devised for us these harmonious melodies of the psalms, that they who are children in age, or even those who are youthful in disposition, might to all appearances chant, but in reality, become trained in soul. For, never has any one of the many indifferent persons gone away easily holding in mind either an apostolic or prophetic message, but they do chant the words of the psalms, even in the home, and they spread them around in the market place, and, if perchance, someone becomes exceedingly wrathful, when he begins to be soothed by the psalm, he departs with the wrath immediately lulled to sleep by means of the melody.

A psalm implies serenity of Soul; it is the author of peace, which calms bewildering and seething thoughts. For, it softens the wrath of the soul, and what is unbridled it chastens. A psalm forms friendships, unites those separated, conciliates those at enmity. Who, indeed, can still consider as an enemy him with whom he has uttered the same prayer to God? So that psalmody, bringing about choral singing, a bond, as it were, toward unity, and joining people into a harmonious union of one choir, produces also the greatest of blessings, love.

A psalm is a city of refuge from the demons; a means of inducing help from the angels, a weapon in fears by night, a rest from the toils of the day, a safeguard for infants, an adornment for those at the height of their vigour, a consolation for the elders, a most fitting ornament for women. It peoples the solitudes; it rids the market places of excesses; it is the elementary exposition of beginners, the improvement of those advancing, the solid support of the perfect, the voice of the Church. It brightens feast days; it creates a sorrow which is in accordance with God. For, a psalm calls forth a tear even from a heart of stone.

A psalm is the work of angels, a heavenly institution, the spiritual incense.

OFTEN ASKED

If there is a God, why do people suffer?

We need not see all of our sins to become humble, meek and lowly like our Lord. We only need to see God’s Divinity and we instantly know who we are and where we stand.

Even physical affection can become tiresome but love itself, is there satiation?

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PARADISE NOW - ASCETICAL HOMILIES AND VIGNETTES Saturday Oct. 18/31 ns 2026 - HOMILLY Saint John Chrysostomos THEN? VIGNETTE

 

Ascetical homilies are the God-given fruits of guidance and agape granted to those who in asceticism, from the apostles on, gave and give all of their life and love to Christ and His two salvific commands.  If we, in turn, contemplate and reflect on those gifts, they bring crucial clarity not only to scripture, (which can at times be difficult to comprehend and apply for the fallen mind), but also clarity to our own personal spiritual status as we take up the Cross and transcend from transient darkness to the Eternal Light of of the Holy Trinity.

T H E N ?

+ Saint John Chrysostomos

Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went unto the chief priests, and said unto them, What will ye give me, and I will deliver Him unto you?

(St. Matthew 26:14–15)

These words seem to be clear and not to hint at anything more, but if you carefully examine each word, you will find deep meaning and a great deal to contemplate.

First, the time. The Evangelist does not indicate it without cause. He does not simply say, “One of the twelve went,” but adds, then one of the twelve … went. "Then?" tell me, when? And why does he indicate the time? What does he want to teach me? He does not say for no reason: speaking by the Spirit, he does not say anything at random or to no end. Therefore, what does this “then” mean?

Before that time, before that hour, a harlot came with an alabaster box of ointment and poured the oil onto the head of the Lord. She displayed great service; she displayed great faith, great obedience, and great piety. She was turned from her former life and became better and wiser. And when the harlot had repented, when she had been drawn to the Master (note: on her own by her humility), then the disciple betrayed his Teacher. Thus the Evangelist said then, so that you not accuse the Teacher of weakness when you see the disciple betraying Him. For the power of the Teacher was such that He drew even harlots to proper obedience. 

Why then, you say, was He Who won over harlots not able to win over His disciple? He had the power to win over His disciple, but He did not wish to make him good by force or to forcibly draw him to Himself. Then [he] went. In this “went” there is not a little matter for contemplation: for he was not summoned by the chief priests, he was not constrained or forced. Rather, of himself and of his own accord, he gave birth to his intention and brought forth his treachery, without any counselor in his wickedness.

V I G N E T T E

CONSEQUENCES

Except for a single obedience, Adam and Eve were given free will while in Paradise. Having, failed they were cast out of Paradise into a world in which they had exposed themselves. We all know this and are now experiencing it but consider and contemplate the nature of our banishment. Does this world not contain elements of Paradise? Yes! Did God abandon us? No! Is this world void of His love and grace? No! Did He destroy the Garden? No! Did He not personally provide a way to return? Yes! And did He not tell us its location and directions? Yes!

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ASCETICAL HOMILIES AND VIGNETTES for Friday Oct. 17/30 ns 2026 = Saint Theophan the Recluse NOTHING TO FEAR - Saint Maximos the Confessor LOVE

Ascetical homilies are the God-given fruits of guidance and agape granted to those who in asceticism, from the apostles on, gave and give all of their life and love to Christ and His two salvific commands.  If we, in turn, contemplate and reflect on those gifts, they bring crucial clarity not only to scripture, (which can at times be difficult to comprehend and apply for the fallen mind), but also clarity to our own personal spiritual status as we take up the Cross and transcend from transient darkness to the Eternal Light of of the Holy Trinity.

NOTHING TO FEAR

Saint Theophan the Recluse

The devil approaches the God-man with temptations. Who among men is free of them?

As soon as one begins to come to himself and intends to begin a new life according to God’s will, immediately the entire satanic realm enters into action: they hasten to scatter good thoughts and the intentions of the repentant one in any way they can.
If they do not manage to turn him aside, they attempt to hinder his good repentance and confession; if they do not manage to do that, they contrive to sow tares amidst the fruits of repentance and disrupt his labors of cleansing the heart.
If they do not succeed in suggesting evil they attempt to distort the truth; if they are repulsed inwardly they attack outwardly, and so on until the end of one’s life. They do not even let one die in peace; even after death they pursue the soul, until it escapes the aerial space where they hover and congregate.

You ask, “What should we do? It is hopeless and terrifying!”
For a believer there is nothing terrifying here, because near a God-fearing man demons only busy themselves, but they do not have any power over him. A sober man of prayer shoots arrows against them, and they stay far away from him, not daring to approach, and fearing the defeat which they have already experienced.

If they succeed in something, it is due to our blundering. We slacken our attention, or allow ourselves to be distracted by their phantoms, and they immediately come and disturb us more boldly.
If you do not come to your senses in time they will whirl you about; but if a soul does come to its senses they again recoil and spy from afar to see whether it is possible to approach again somehow.
So be sober, watch, and pray—and the enemies will do nothing to you.

L O V E 

Saint Maximos the Confessor

Love is a holy state of the soul, disposing it to value knowledge of God above all created things. We cannot attain lasting possession of such love while we are still attached to anything worldly.

No new vignettes today

ASCETICAL HOMILIES AND VIGNETTES -Thursday Oct. 16/29ns/2026 - THEOSIS - ONE WITH GOD Saint John of Kronstadt - PRAYER AND HAPPINESS Saint Paisios of Athos

*

MY LIFE IN CHRIST

THEOSIS - ONE WITH GOD 

Saint John of Kronstadt

God is the cause of everything visible and invisible. 

God  is invisible.

Yearn after the invisible God. 

God is an eternal, All Holy, Most Gracious, Omniscient, Almighty, All Righteous, Omnipresent, Unchangeable, All Satisfied, Most Blessed Spirit. And you are the image of God. Therefore, be spiritual, despising the flesh, which is only your temporal home; be holy, kind, wise, just, watchful, and courageous, unchangeable in good, and satisfied with everything. He who has built himself a house, He, by every right, ought to live in it. We are the houses of our Creator; He has created us for Himself, for He "has done all things for His own sake;" and it is He Who should dwell in us, and not the Devil--this murderer, thief, ravisher, this deceiver. " Come and make Thine abode in us." "We will come unto him, and make our abode with him." "Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?" Reverence every word, every thought of the Word of God, of the writings of the Holy Fathers, and, amongst them, the various prayers and hymns which we hear in church or which we read at home, because they are all the breathing and words of the Holy Spirit. It is, so to say, the " Holy Spirit Himself," Who " maketh intercession" for us, and through us, " with groanings which cannot be uttered."

The great litany daily said in the Orthodox Church is the most wise litany, the litany of love; in it both living Christians and the saints are represented as fellow members of the Body of Jesus Christ. It finishes most beautifully with the following exclamation: " Commemorating our most holy, most pure, most blessed, glorious Lady, the Mother of God and Ever Virgin Mary, together with all the saints, let us commend ourselves and one another and all our life to Christ our God." The redoubled and supplicatory litanies are also beautiful. We have grown accustomed to them, but let us imagine that we hear them for the first time: let us put ourselves in the position of foreigners. [Have no doubt]

Saint Paisios of the Holy Mountain Athos carrying an icon
of the Theotokos, the Mother of all the saints and angels, and who appeared to him.

(Don't stop here, keep reading)

When praying to God, we must always represent to ourselves His infinite greatness, His worship by thousands of thousands and millions of millions of the angels of Heaven and the saints; also His omnipresence and omniscience, His infinite mercy, righteousness and holiness. 

And when in prayer you call the most holy Virgin Mother of God, most holy, most pure, most spotless, most blessed--represent to yourself that Her very being is holiness eternal, immovable, unchangeable, unimaginable, "impenetrable, even to angelic eyes." Think the same of all the angels and saints--that is, that their being is holiness and goodness, by the grace of Jesus Christ. 

Always consider as a great happiness it is for you to be able to converse in prayer with the Lord, or with His most pure Mother, or with the angels and saints, and pray to them with joy and trembling reverence, remembering with Whom you are conversing ...

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*ON ASCETICAL HOMILIES

Ascetical homilies are the God-given fruits of guidance and agape granted to those who in asceticism, from the apostles and on, gave and give all of their life and love to Christ and His two salvific commands.  If we, in turn, contemplate and reflect on those gifts, they bring crucial clarity not only to scripture, (which can at times be difficult to comprehend and apply for the fallen mind), but also clarity to our own personal spiritual status as we take up the Cross and transcend from transient darkness to the Eternal Light of of the Holy Trinity.

MUTUAL LOVE

When you finally begin to not only read from but love your guides and instructors of Christ (holy ones/saints), you become aware that their love for you was already there and as a result you may come to know the meaning of selfless love.

SEEKING FAULTS

When you admit that you all too frequently look for and remind others of their faults, consider that they may not mention yours because there are too many for them to remember.

IN MY OPINION

I think that anyone who may dutifully read and study Holy Scripture but has no need for help or interpretation in homilies from God-inspired saints and ascetics, (who exchanged this transient life for illumination and Eternal Life in Christ St. Matt 16:26 KJV), is much like someone who chooses to become a physicist and turns down personal help and guidance offered by Albert Einstein or Isaac Newton!

ASCETICAL HOMILIES AND VIGNETTES From Wednesday Oct. 15/28 ns / 2026

 

are God-inspired fruits from ascetical struggle that bring crucial clarity to our spiritual status as we transcend from darkness to the

Light of Illumination of the Holy Spirit

WE ARE ONE BODY

St. John of Kronstadt

You know that eternal life in God has been promised to you and that it must be attained in this brief life through obedience to God and His Church and through patiently enduring illnesses, sorrows, misfortunes, and various privations. Yet you live carelessly, neglecting your soul and virtue...

When you glorify a pious neighbor, you glorify God. When you do good to your neighbor, you do good to yourself, for we are one body.

When you do good to your neighbor, you make God your debtor, for your neighbor is God’s image and God is all in all. When you do good to a Christian, you make Christ, the Son of God, your debtor, for Christians are His Body and His members. When you lend to a Christian, you lend to the Holy Spirit, for Christians are temples of the Holy Spirit. “Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?” (1 Corinthians 3:16).

A MUTUAL EXPERIENCE DURING CONFESSION

While confessing to God from the heart before the priest, purging it of sin with tears, whether wet or dry, in sincere sorrow and regret for your offences against LOVE itself - that Is CHRIST, have you not felt Him listening and already gently blessing you with a dew drop of forgiveness but a dew drop that lifts you from sorrow, whelms you and presents you before Him washed and completely clean?

Having read and been illumined by our Beloved John of Kronstadt's homily above, do you see more clearly why our Lord is called the "Son of Man"? 

Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Show us the Father?

St. John 14:9 KJV

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Thursday October9/22ns 2026 VIGNETTE - PEOPLE ARE LIKE EGGS

 PEOPLE ARE SO MUCH LIKE EGGS

You need not be an artist to admire the simple yet elegant shape, beauty and art of the modest egg.  It reminds me of how many of us, who admire ourselves, who have it good in this life, (not everyone does however) love our life, our hobbies, our interests, our good fortune, our good looks (if so endowed) our abilities our talents, etc.
The reality however is that our life, whether good or bad, distinguished or dim, is nothing more than the shell of the egg, if it remains un-cracked. If one never cracks the egg how can its inner beauty, far surpassing its outer beauty, be known?

When the egg is cracked, which, relative to its size requires some force, a completely new reality, a new identity is revealed.
An identity that not only pleases the eye as did the shell but all the senses and even more. And seemingly infinite possibilities are found. How many of its uses and rewards can you name? The shell is not without value of course but what is it compared to the treasure within? Moreover, its consumption sustains life like no shell can ever do. 

To reveal that which is within the egg, a force is required. So it is with that which lies within each one of us. But with man however the force needed may be either as slight as a single breath or, sadly, greater than splitting an atom. Wonderfully, that force need be nothing more than sincere desire.

Not one of us is an empty shell but no matter how illustrious or lowly our shell may be, few of us find the treasure contained within.

But wait! There is even more to the lowly egg besides food and beauty.  Waiting to get out is a new creature! 

And within the shell we call our body, it is Christ Himself.

The Kingdom of Heaven is within!

Get crackin’!!!

VIGNETTES posted Tuesday October 7/20 ns 2026

 V I G N E T T E S

CHRIST OFFERS PRAYER

Follower of Christ, know that God can directly grant you prayer to offer to Him, not only the prayers of your prayer book, not only the prayers said and heard in the Church, but prayers coming forth from Him and given to you so you may witness them being offered to Him but, rewarding you. If desire abides in the heart it can come forth 'then it will inevitably appear outwardly...' as St Tikhon tell us. Speak to God from your heart on your bed, expecting Him to grace you with words profound in honor of Him. Consider the Psalmist and the beauty of his prayer, how it comes forth like a gushing spring and as effectual to the soul and Spirit as spring water refreshes the body.

MORE BLIND THAN A BAT

ASPECT OF THE FALLEN STATE

No, this is beside war after war after war - in imitation of Cain killing his brother Abel.  

Call them what you like - Palestinians, Jews, Iranians,  Russians, Ukrainians, Latinos, Iranians, Moslems, Africans, etc.  Can  your conscience deny that they are all indeed brothers and sisters in REALITY?  And do we see them as brothers and sisters.  If not, do we even ask why we don't? And what do we really know about reality if we separate ourselves from our Creator?  We are blind and worse yet,  we don't know it.

Yes, the aspect is blind to the fallen state we are in.  And what separates us from God? What changes our relationship with God from peaceful communion to fear and hiding? PRIDE

Sunday October 5.18 ns 2026 VIGNETTES

 

BOREDOM

Does one who keeps endless company with the Creator ever become bored?

FOR SURE?

An atheist once claimed:  "There is no God!"  In response he was asked:  "Are you sure?  Can you prove it?" Surprised, he answered with a "No".  This scenario isn't uncommon among atheists who seem to like to address a subject in which they have little more to offer than conjecture.  Hmm ...

Another atheist meekly asked if the existence of God could be proved. "Yes"  was the reply.  Ok, what is your proof?  

If you will, please repeat the name Jesus, and he did.   Now what? he said.  If you really desire to know, start calling for Christ by simply saying his name ceaselessly, either within or outwardly. Ok, he replied, and for how long? Don't stop until ...

KECHARITOMENE - FULL OF GRACE

In the Church the following is related concerning St. Gregory Palamas the Wonderworker. He called the name of Most Holy Ever Virgin Mary ceaselessly for so long that she finally appeared in the room and asked what he wanted.  

HEART IN THE PALM

Approach our Heavenly Father holding your heart in your hand in hope of restitution, a meek and loving heart from which the passions has been circumcised. He is closer than your eyes, the same eyes that have been granted to touch the clouds and the stars.

A SINGLE REQUEST BUT DENIED

Adam was in ceaseless communion with God but having been given free will, he chose to use it to disobey his Creator's one, single instruction and in doing so became prideful, which alienated him.
So, many are and remain alienated through pride even if in the slightest degree as an innocent child.

VIGNETTES POSTED THURSDAY OCTOBER 3/16 NS 2026

 FREE WILL

Free will is a gift from God.   It allows one to make choices.  But far beyond the choices we make and have made, it allows us the freedom to exchange our will for God’s Will.  In doing so, entirely and completely, and to God and God alone, our will is miraculously, by our Father's love for us, not lost but *retained.  Once this occurs faith is fulfilled; acquisition confirmed. As our Lord said:

* '...I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.'

His voice is infinitely quieter than
a single particle of dust floating in the air;
His voice is louder than a trillion galaxies
crashing together when heard by the soul.
When we wander off in pursuit
of the temporal and we wish to return
Simply Yearn!

Wednesday Oct 1 / 14 ns 2026 VIGNETTES / Holy Protection of the Theotokos; Gorgoypékoös Icon of the Theotokos; Holy Apostle Ananias; St. Romanós the Melodist; St. Remigius, Bishop of Rheims, Enlightener of the Franks ~ Fast day

 Wednesday, October 1

October 14 ns

2026

~ Fast day ~

Commemorations are provided at
THE PARAGON BLOG
Link is in the column to the right  

WAKE UP!

Our Holy Father Andrew of Crete says to himself in the Great Canon: “My soul, my soul, arise! Why are you sleeping? The end is drawing near . . ."

Should I not say this to myself continually until  Life Eternal calls me from this ephemeral one?  After all, God doesn't have to tolerate us. He doesn't have to suffer us. 

He does so because

HE IS LOVE

WAKE UP!

CAPITAL PUNISHMENT

Takes away not only life. but also time to repent

DO YOURSELF A FAVOR

and

PLEASE GOD AT THE SAME TIME

Do yourself a favor by doing something for someone beside yourself, but at the same time be sure to dismiss any thought of a reward.  As the saints say, it's easy to fall into pride.   And if you hear complaints from the person who are offering consolation, don't correct but instead ... be a comfort.  If we take account of all our wrongs we will find no torment from our Lord 'before the time'.  So emulate the Lord and His Most Precious Mother and offer comfort, if you want to please God!

Do you need substantiation?  Read the BOOK OFJOB

Don't Forget...

On the Sermon on the Mount, the Lord said: "Don't let your left hand know what your right hand is doing" . In fact, there is an ancient saying that imitates our Lord's words. "Do the right thing, (in other words, do the Lord's will) and then throw the memory of what you have done into the ocean." 

In our fallen state, we are inclined toward the passions so we must always be on guard.