"Suppose that this circle is the world, and that the center of the circle is God.  Leading from the edge of the circle to its center are a number of lines, and these represent the paths or ways of life that men can follow.  In their desire to draw near to God, the saints advance along these lines towards the middle of the circle, so that the further they go, the nearer they approach to one and other as well as to God.  The closer they come to God, the closer they come to one another; and the closer they come to each other, the closer they come to God ... such is the nature of love: the nearer we draw to God in our love for him, the more we are united together by love for our neighbor; and the greater our union with our neighbor, the greater our union with God."

-Taken from St. Dorotheus's - Instructions.