Yesterday, the birthday of Vladimir Solovyov passed by. Few people know that had he lived longer, he would have gone on to become one of the greatest reformers of the Church. I have read his letters extensively and purchased several of his books. In the face of world tragedies, Solovyov responded with optimism, not despair. All of the bad things happening in life merely emboldened him and strengthened his certainty/conviction. He worked on his writings in hard, brutal living conditions, but he wasn't phased by it. Had he overcome some of his weaknesses, such as his inherent inertia, and his reluctance to write back to correspondents, he would have become a Titan among man. Often in his letters, he talks about overcoming his difficulties by a force of courageous spirit and with God's help. One of Solovyov's favorite mottos is "nobody can harm one whom God helps." He sincerely believed and strived to see the good in people. He had an interesting way with words, two of his saying stood ou