The farmer plows the earth…

…cleans, sows seed, and awaits the mercy of God. If God doesn’t send rains and helpful winds when they are necessary, the farmer’s toils are in vain. It’s the same with us. If God doesn’t send the purifying waters of His grace, we remain devoid of fruit and our works become the fodder of demons. For our passions drown them and we don’t harvest anything. We mustn’t forget that virtuous deeds that are not done for the right reason become evil deeds.

Elder Joseph the Hesychast, +1959

Source: http://wordfromthedesert.squarespace.com/meditations/tag/elder-joseph-the-hesychast