St. John Climacus | Blessed is he who has obtained such love and yearning for God...

There is nothing wrong in representing desire, and fear, and care and zeal and service and love for God in images borrowed from human life.

Blessed is he who has obtained such love and yearning for God as an enraptured lover has for his beloved.
Blessed is he who fears the Lord as much as men under trial fear the judge.
Blessed is he who is as zealous with true zeal as a well-disposed slave towards his master.
Blessed is he who has become as jealous of the virtues as husbands who remain in unsleeping watch over their wives out of jealousy.
Blessed is he who stands in prayer before the Lord as servants stand before a king.
Blessed is he who unceasingly strives to please the Lord as others try to please men.