- For humans, the Earth is a temptation, a seduction. It’s the same with our Holy Land, it’s just that its essence is slightly covered up, draped with faith. Of course, holiness has gained a foothold here and there, but even there it is only in spots, not deep. You cannot forget about the promise and leave, but you cannot grow in either: if you pierce the layer of grace with your roots, you are doomed. Your helmsman is right - there is only one thing left to do: run, without stopping or slowing down. Run, stepping lightly and not crushing anything. For runners, their ships are only quiet backwaters during a storm. - The helmsman says that although the pilgrim’s path usually lies from one shrine to another, the temple in which they pray is not of this world. - Statistics are hard to come by. Before his going on the run, each wayfarer had his own life, and even in retrospect it is impossible to say that this one will some day get up and leave, and that one will accept evil, resign himself to destruction. People are different, and who of them, when and why will remember God, only He Himself knows. The same is true about the paths they travel and about the arks of salvation to which the road leads them from time to time. (Return to Egypt , V. Sharov, translated)