The Mad Hatter Makes a ~gasp~ Resolution

In the past, I have tried my level best to start my day with a list of things to do. The list may not necessarily be written down someplace but I do always have an idea of what needs doing, cleaning, fixing, whatever-ing next. Then there are those moments when I know there is something that needs doing but it conflicts with something equally important that needs doing. That's when I go all deer-in-headlights. Drives me nuts! I mean, which one is the "right" thing to do?

Sometimes I try to think about what I am doing in terms of what "hat" I am wearing. You know, that saying about how we all wear many hats? I think Stephen Covey (Seven Habits of Highly Effective People) came up with it. Essentially he said we can compartmentalize and prioritize what needs to be done based upon which hat we are wearing at that time. Seems pretty simple, does it not?

Unfortunately, that "hat" thing just leads to major anxiety for me. How does it lead to anxiety? Well just think about it...I'm trying to figure out which is the right thing to do, right? What will be the outcome if I do X instead of Y? Or if I do Y before X? Or...? Or...? Or...? It's enough to make a happily odd girl go slowly insane if not require professional help and a handful of anxiety meds per day. And who can afford that? 

Add to that the fact that the Lord has said that anxiety is a sin, has He not? So I have to do things slightly differently. I keep the list but it's not carved in granite. I've simply decided that my life has got to be more than getting stuff done and checking things off a list. I have to be flexible and gentle with myself and learn to live with the chips as they fall where they may. 

Basically, I have to remember to give up control while remaining in control. I can't let anyone force me into a position where I lose control anymore. There is no need for it. To possibly misquote a character from Sean Russell's Gatherer of Clouds, "To lose control because one feels out of control is a very confused response, I think."

So I think this coming year's resolution (I hate those things) is going to be keeping control and learning how to master the passions in my soul. It does me no good to allow these things to come to me and separate me from God by causing me undue anxiety and nervousness. The last part of the verses from Philippians I noted above says, 

"Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." 

Emphasis mine. This next year, as I come to the end of yet another journey (graduation in December 2011, YAY!) I want to be at peace with God. That is truly it. I just want peace. Not the peace of the doormat getting walked on all the time nor the peace of the soldier who is always ready for battle. Just peace to live my life the way God wants me to live it. This is not to say that I won't fight if the need arises because there are things I will not abide and I will not be walked all over. No. There has to be a balance and I am looking for it.

This coming year, I hope to find it.

Lord have mercy on me, a sinner.

Relevant Reading

Artwork borrowed from Fayrenpickpocket @ Deviant Art

Philippians 4:4-7

Gatherer of Clouds
The Ascetic Podvig of Living in the World
Are Passions Natural?

Christ is Born! Glorify Him!

Christ is born, glorify Him! Christ from heaven, go out to meet Him! 

Christ is on earth, be exalted! 

Sing to the Lord all the whole earth; and that I may join both in one word, 

let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad, 

for Him who is of heaven and then of earth.

 Christ in the flesh, rejoice with trembling and with joy; 

with trembling because of your sins, 

with joy because of your hope!

Lord have mercy on me, a sinner!

An Imperial Greeting from a Modern Orthodox Emperor

 

*Click image to increase size

Did I Miss Something?

Sometimes I think I may have missed something. Hm. I guess I need to back up and explain that one.

Currently, I am listening to the book, A Brief History of Time by Stephen Hawking. I personally think Hawking is great. He has a great sense of geeky humor that I totally get (so what does that say about me?), is brilliant at what he does and has the talent to make ridiculously complex mathematics, physics and cosmology understandable to the layman. He is also quite talented at marketing himself. We're talking about a man who has been confined to a wheelchair for decades and unable to do anything except think. He can't even write down the equations he comes up with in the middle of the night, but has to remember them and wait for someone to write it out for him! And what does he think about? Creation. How did we get here? Where did we come from? Why does the universe have such order from the largest scale down to the smallest?

I love listening to his books and make it a point to watch all the documentaries about cosmology on the science channels. I don't have the talent or skill to be a theoretical quantum physicist but I certainly enjoy listening to their theories. And the way Hawking breaks them down makes the basics actually fun for me. Everything I've learned from just watching science shows about him and his theories have only made me more aware of the awesome creative power of God Who not only made the BIG, BIG things like galaxies but also the tiniest parts that make up those galaxies like quarks.

The reason why I think I may have missed something is because I have some friends who aren't fans. Why? Because Hawking isn't a believer. I was talking about something in Hawking's book and a friend said, "I don't bother with him. He's not a Christian and I just don't want to hear what he has to say." So they dismiss what he says and disregard what he has contributed because he doesn't have faith? That is so annoying to me. A lot of people don't believe in God, does that mean we get to dismiss everything they have done? That their contributions to whatever field are not valuable, that THEY as human beings are not valuable because they see the universe differently from me? How limiting and arrogant that is. Frankly, I don't care if he believes in God. I can't make him. I am fairly certain the gospel has been presented to him at some point--most people in thew Western world have heard it--but he has not responded to it as far as I know. Who knows if he will in the future or not? If he does will he have to recant all his science and theories for these people?

So I am thinking I must be missing something because I definitely enjoy Hawking. He is a genius and I've learned lots from him. Many people have and have neither lost their faith nor started sacrificing goats in their backyard. I don't comprehend this insular attitude. Why hide from M-theory, branes and quantum physics?

I think a lot of the issues people have with Hawking lie in the fact that the man does not seem humble. He does sometimes project a very "I am smart and you aren't so just listen to me" attitude, but I have gotten that vibe from plenty of people who are tops in their field. It's a human failing; deal with it. I've been there and done that myself. And Hawking has come out and said that he was wrong on more than one occasion. I don't know if that means he's humbled himself sufficiently or not. You put a bunch of crabs in a pot and they always manage to pull the one nearest the top back down.

Hawking's theories and beliefs have no bearing on me and mine. As a Christian, I believe God created the heavens and the earth. He created them according to laws and rules He put in place which we call mathematics and physics. Those laws sustain life as we know it and probably life as we have yet to discover because God made it that way. While this doesn't mean we will find God in those laws and rules and it also doesn't mean we cannot discover those laws and rules and use them.

Stephen Hawking is a brilliant man. He can teach us a lot about what it means to persevere and succeed in spite of the odds against you (his doctors told him he had two years to live back in the mid-1960's). He loves what he does, that is obvious. Dismissing him because he is not Christian is not a Christian thing to do and, I think, it leaves one the poorer for it.

Interesting Times for a Colored Girl

Wow! What an interesting year/semester. Some of THE most fascinating (and tiring things) have happened to me along the way.

Let me es-plain.

No...There is too much. Let me sum up.*

I discovered that no matter how much pure unadulterated unfettered dramedy one has to live through, I've not had so many trials that I cannot still find peace and praise the Lord. (Hebrews 12:4, 7-12) I mean seriously, some of what happened the past, oh, six months, would make a great sit-com if it was happening to someone else. There were moments when I wanted someone to pass the popcorn cos I just knew there had to be a camera crew nearby. Those tests and trials may not have been martyrdom by the ancient sense of the word, but still they made me into something entirely different than I was before. And I like who I am now. Survival will do that for you. And I have done more than survive this year. By the grace of God, I thrived.

Besides, I learned so much! Not only in school, but also about myself. I mean, some of what I've managed to, well, manage, has been amazing to me simply because I just knew I wouldn't be able to do any of it.

But I did. Imagine that.

I can only praise God that He did not fail to give me a way to escape (1 Corinthians 10:13) when things got tough and I wanted to give up. And He made sure I actually knew that I had an escape route I could use. He even occasionally smacked me upside the head with some interesting circumstances to make sure I used said escape route. Yeah, I have never gotten hints too well so He is getting really good about making it very plain for me. LOL!

This is not to say that I haven't wanted to run screaming in the opposite direction more than once. Giving up always looks easy. But then I'd have to live with myself. Yeah, that's not going to happen. Not to mention I would have been escorted out of my family of overachievers. Frog-marched even. To quote:

i cdnt stand it
i cdnt stand bein sorry & colored at the same time
it's so redundant in the modern world
Ntozake Shange, no more love poems #1, For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide When the Rainbow is Enuf

Frankly I didn't have a choice. It is a-frakkin'-mazing what you can do when your choices are limited to "survive or die". Trust me. That is how I looked at this year. Survive or die. And then I called the Lord's bluff. May I just say, He doesn't bluff. He's always holding a Royal Flush. Always. I like that. So, here God was holding the winning hand and I had decided to trust Him and hold on for the ride.

As I said, it was a little tiring. It wasn't like I was just sitting there either. I mean faith without works is dead and stinky. (James 2:14-26) There was stuff I had to do; primary to that was obey His commandments (hear and do, as I teach my own son). Isn't that what He said to do to prove our love for Him? He tells you to do something and, if you love Him, you do it. (John 14:15,21) Simple.

Yeah you believe that if you want to. There's a whole bunch of stuff I have to grit my teeth to do. There's a whole bunch of stuff I wish someone would bribe me to do. There's a whole bunch of stuff that I would just really rather slice my skin off in strips with a dull, salty knife than do. (I kid you not.) But He never said I had to like it. He just said If you love me, you will obey my commandments. I don't succeed all the time, but praise God, He accepts my most paltry efforts and forgives my sin when I fall.

I've learned that I can "suck up" just about anything when I am being obedient to Him, because it isn't about my comfort at that time. It's about Him being glorified and showing Himself strong. Heck at least I have my house and a nice warm bed. King David had to live in caves and worry about being killed by a madman. At least I don't have to live in a cave. ~rimshot~ LOL! (Keeping a sense of humor is paramount too, but then again, I'm loopy.)

Anyway these are just a few of the things these last few months have taught me. I hope that was coherent. I knew what I was trying to say anyway.

Lord have mercy on me, a sinner!

Relevant Reading
Hebrews 12:4,7
1 Corinthians 10:13
James 2:14-26
John 14:15, 21
2 John 1:6

*Inigo Montoya, The Princess Bride

Heart Full

My heart is full and my head is spinning a little bit. That is a good thing. It really is. As soon as I can parse it down to a post or two, I will. Meanwhile...

The Lord is my light and my salvation;
   whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold of my life;
   of whom shall I be afraid?
When evildoers assail me
   to devour my flesh—
my adversaries and foes—
   they shall stumble and fall.
Though an army encamp against me,
   my heart shall not fear;
though war rise up against me,
   yet I will be confident.
One thing I asked of the Lord,
   that will I seek after:
to live in the house of the Lord
   all the days of my life,
to behold the beauty of the Lord,
   and to inquire in his temple.
For he will hide me in his shelter
   in the day of trouble;
he will conceal me under the cover of his tent;
   he will set me high on a rock.
Now my head is lifted up
   above my enemies all around me,
and I will offer in his tent
   sacrifices with shouts of joy;
I will sing and make melody to the Lord.
Hear, O Lord, when I cry aloud,
   be gracious to me and answer me!
‘Come,’ my heart says, ‘seek his face!’
   Your face, Lord, do I seek.
   Do not hide your face from me.
Do not turn your servant away in anger,
   you who have been my help.
Do not cast me off, do not forsake me,
   O God of my salvation!
If my father and mother forsake me,
   the Lord will take me up.
Teach me your way, O Lord,
   and lead me on a level path
   because of my enemies.
Do not give me up to the will of my adversaries,
   for false witnesses have risen against me,
   and they are breathing out violence.
I believe that I shall see the goodness of the Lord
   in the land of the living.
Wait for the Lord;
   be strong, and let your heart take courage;
   wait for the Lord!
Psalm 27

Lord have mercy on me a sinner.

And Now For Something Completely Different

How to Survive the Next Seven Days Waiting For The Release of The Towers of Midnight

I know. I know. The wait must be killing you by now.  Try to relax.  November 2^nd will be here soon, and there are plenty of things we can all do to occupy our time until then.

So before you lose your marbles, consider the following 25 suggestions:

1. Wash the spears. You will need them when Tarmon Gai’don begins
2. Take your wolf brother for a nice relaxing walk
3. Raise the banner of Malkier in your backyard and see who shows up
4. Make an apple pie since you have plenty on hand now.
5. Fantasize about what Ajah you’ll join one day [Note: I would be Brown Ajah, no doubt]
6. Play Snakes and Foxes with your best friend until one of you wins
7. Take a camping trip to the parking lot of your local bookstore
8. Tease your boyfriend with your best Tinker shawl dance
9. Tease your girlfriend with your best Tinker shawl dance and hope she doesn’t dump you
10. Book your hotel room for JordanCon
11. Start your own Ajah
12. Practice your juggling and other gleeman’s skills
13. Adopt a piglet and name it Mat
14. Eat every meal this week with sursa
15. Scribble the Dragon’s Fang on your sibling’s door
16. Reorganize your RAFO cards
17. Look for the Waygate that opens up to the Tor offices thinking that you’ll be able to steal a copy of Towers of Midnight
18. Start your Wheel of Time costume for Halloween (I’m going to be a Tinker!)
19. Teach your dog to obey commands in the Old Tongue
20. Play Magic: The Gathering (Maybe the extra practice will give you the edge you need to beat Brandon on tour)
21. Practice your sword forms
22. Go to Starbucks and attempt to order kaf
23. Hunt down the remaining renegade Black Ajah
24. Attempt to trick your crush into a Seanchan marriage
25. Ignore me. You’re going to keep drinking and keep bloody gambling. No woman is going to walk into your life and start telling you what to do.

Laura Fitzgerald is the Internet Marketing Assistant at Tor Books and Sitter for the Ochre Ajah, an Ajah she made up while waiting for Towers of Midnight.  The Ochre Ajah is dedicated to improving the taste of muffins and other baked goods through the One Power.  They are currently accepting petitions from hopeful aspirants on the Tor Books Twitter.


Lord have mercy on me, a (geeky) sinner.

Relevant Reading
The Wheel of Time, wikipedia entry
Official Tor.com Website for Robert Jordan's The Wheel of Time
Tor.com Towers of Midnight Newsletter
Brandon Sanderson, recipient of Jordan's mantle
Dragonmount, a WoT Community
Encyclopaedia WoT, exactly as named
I Have Read Towers of Midnight, a review from DM

God is Never Surprised!

...But boy I am!!

Today I got a piece of news that sent me to my knees in praise and thanksgiving. I'd been waiting for this for such a long time and was beginning to think it would never ever happen, but..It did! I was dancing and having such a good time. Everything was great.

Then it got better.

Tonight, I had another responsibility that I must take care of regularly and discovered that something was coming up that I had failed to anticipate (yes I know I am being overly circumspect). But the first wonderful thing would eliminate the need for me to do this anymore! Can you imagine how I felt when I realized that God had already known it was coming and took care of it for me? I'm almost in tears right now. God took care of this event that I didn't even know was coming before I needed to even ask!

God is so good to me! I love that He knows what is happening and what is going to happen and then makes it into something good in spite of whatever it is I am doing. He keeps His promises.

He keeps His promises.
He keeps His promises.
HE KEEPS HIS PROMISES.

Not because of anything I have done, but because He said He would. He told me not to be afraid and He would do all that I ask. He called me worthy. He said He would not abandon me, but would raise me up, never leave me and care for my child and me. He said He would give me a new name and that He delights in me. Years ago, when Gabriel was a baby in arms, He told me He delights in me and last year He told me He still does! I can read His promises He made to me and tell you the day and the hour that they were fulfilled.

I don't know why He cares for me like He does but I don't even want to question it. All I know is that He does and IS and that is enough for me.

I praise Thee, O God of our Fathers, I hymn Thee, I bless Thee, I give thanks unto thee for Thy great and tender mercy. To Thee I flee, O merciful and mighty God. Shine into my heart with the True Sun of Thy righteousness. Enlighten my mind and keep all my senses, that henceforth I may walk uprightly and keep Thy commandments, and may finally attain unto eternal life, even to Thee, Who art the source of life, and be admitted to the glorious fruition of Thine inaccessible Light. For Thou art my God, and unto Thee, 

O Father, Son and Holy Spirit, be ascribed glory, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.

Thank you, Father! Thank you for the mercy you have had upon me, a sinner. Thank you!

Relevant Reading
Ruth 3:11
Isaiah 54
Isaiah 62
God's Been Good to Me!

His Mercy Endures Forever!

Praise the Lord, all you nations!

Extol him, all you peoples! 

For great is his steadfast love towards us,

and the faithfulness of the Lord endures for ever.

Praise the Lord! Alleluia!

Psalm 117

Chanted at St Mary Antiochian Orthodox Church

Letter in the Wake of Senseless Tragedy

Hello my girl,
I  wanted to say hi and tell you how much I miss you and that I hope your classes are going well and that you are having fun too.
But I also have to have a mommy moment-  bear with me here.  I won't take long, and I won't be saying anything I haven't already said in one form or another,  but it is important.

You may or may not have heard about the NJ college student who killed himself last week because his room-mate had posted videotape of him having sex with another guy.  A terrible, senseless tragedy.

My mommy job requires that I remind you of two essential things:
One:
Nothing ruins your life forever. NOTHING.
Two:
Nothing ruins your life forever. NOTHING. 

If that young man had only waited a couple of weeks nobody would have cared- he'd have gotten past it.  People have short memories- life would have gotten better, much better.  His parents and friends? They loved him prior to the tape- they would have loved him afterward too.  A few awkward moments and then life goes on. 

But when you are young you don't know that even the awkward moments are fleeting.  On this,  you just have to trust the old people.  Remember when you were really small and cried and cried over something?  Well,  it didn't last.  That's kind of what it's like- awful things happen, you feel like there's a rock in the pit of your stomach, somehow time goes by and it gets better.  I promise you, it ALWAYS gets better. 

The students, a girl and boy, who were involved in the taping and posting-- they are being charged with bias crime, invasion of privacy and possibly other things.  Their college life is over.  They will have to live with this death the rest of their lives-- and their families are devastated.  What they did was so wrong- but also so kid-stupid.  Not to mention mean. And so their lives will be different forever- but even so- their families will love them and they will have time enough to hopefully live in such a way as to make meaning from their mistake.

So, my beautiful girl,  never, ever think something is unfixable.  NOTHING you do will ever keep us from loving you.  NOTHING you do could be so awful you can't get past it. 

And if someone is mean to you, and it isn't something you can ignore-- seek out people to talk to about it.  Surround yourself with people who are supportive.  If you ever need help and don't know how to ask- try writing a letter instead.  And right now- before you might need such help- think about who you would talk to if needed.  In the midst of turmoil sometimes we don't always think as clearly- having a plan makes it easier to find help in crisis.  And remember there are always alternatives. Always.

Finally, don't be mean.  Don't let other people be mean. 
Stand up for the underdog, protect those who aren't as smart or confident or easygoing as yourself. 
Treat people's feelings like fragile little puppies- if you play with them- be gentle.

I love you so much and I know you really don't need me to tell you this stuff.... but it's my job.
Love and hugs,
Mommy

Vicki Bell's Blog

Holy Theotokos, I pray that I may always always always convey this to Gabriel. Nothing, nothing, nothing is ever that bad. As a kid and as an adult, I've been the victim of people who were mean and thoughtless and who have tried to make me feel like my life is worthless and that the world would be better without me. I know that being depressed and hurting and bleeding inside can skew your reasoning and make you believe that things would be better if you weren't there. It's not true. The trouble is that it's so hard to deal with those feelings alone. Holy mother, pray to God that as he grows older, Gabriel will know that he knows that he knows that he knows that he can come to me and I won't let him down. Pray that he will know that he can ask for your prayers and the prayers of his angel and all of the saints and that they will avail much. Most of all, let him know that he is loved and in spite of everything EVER, he will be loved.

And please pray for me, a sinner.

Who Are These Holy Fathers?

My Dear Friend:

You have asked a good question: "Who are these Holy Fathers you Orthodox Christians are always speaking of, and why are they so important to you? Isn't is enough to just have the Bible?" 

First I must tell you that not only are Holy Fathers important to Orthodox Christians today, but they have been important to Christians from the very beginning; during the great age of Church Councils (the fourth through the eighth centuries) the proclamation of those Councils began with these significant words: "Following the Holy Fathers..." I think you'll find that these Holy Fathers are important to you, too, even though you are not Orthodox, because anyone who loves Christ naturally also loves those who knew and experienced Him intimately, revealing Him to others.

And so, a Holy Father is, first, a member of the Orthodox Church and a saint--that is, a baptized believer, known for the holiness and great virtue of his life, who is now in heaven with Christ. Secondly, a Holy Father is one who teaches the Faith and is an explainer of Holy Scripture. He gives witness to it by both his life and writings, enlightened by the grace of the Holy Spirit. Also, a Holy Father is not self appointed; he is chosen by God and revealed to the consciousness of the whole Body of Christ as one who has spoken truthfully about divine things. Finally, his words must reflect the teachings of Holy Scripture and the Apostles; he may not teach things contrary to what has always been believed and taught in the Church; he must faithfully hand down what he has received.

Because many people think that Christ's Church somehow "died out," or, as even many Protestants believe, that it apostasized during the first century after Christ (as if such a thing were really possible considering Christ's promise to be with His Church "even unto the end of the ages" (Matt. 25:20), I would like to share with you a glimpse of the early Church as seen in the lives and writings of Holy Fathers, from the time of the Apostles until about 200 A.D. roughly three generations. 

You can easily verify that what you are about to read is not something I've made up; this information can be found in well documented form in any larger library. In fact I ask you not to take my word for it. Investigate for yourself; take the trouble to be informed about something that affects your very salvation.

In his Epistle to the Philipplans, St. Paul mentions a "true yoke-fellow" and "fellow-laborer" named "Clement" (Phil. 4:3). You might be surprised to learn that history also knows this man; one of his letters is preserved in manuscript form in the British Museum! He is know as St. Clement the Roman. He was martyred in 97 or 98, shortly after the end of Emperor Domitian's persecution of the Christian Church. His letter is a wonderful witness concerning the existence of Apostolic Succession in the early Church:

"The Apostles received the Gospel for us from the Lord Jesus Christ; Jesus Christ was sent forth from God. So then Christ is from God and the Apostles are from Christ. Both therefore came of the will of God in an appointed order. Having therefore received a charge...they went forth with the glad tidings .... Then, preaching everywhere in country and town, they appointed their' first-fruits, when they had proved them by the Spirit, to be bishops and deacons unto all those that should believe ....         They appointed these persons and then also provided a continuance, that when these should fall asleep, other approved men should succeed to their ministration."

Concerning the need to be obedient to the successors to the Apostles he says: "But if certain persons should be disobedient unto the words spoken by Him through us, let them understand that they will entangle themselves in no small transgression and danger."

Another early Church Father, a disciple of the Apostle John, is St. Ignatius, of Antioch, martyred in 109 A.D. He was the child whom our Lord took into his arms in Matthew's Gospel (Matthew 18:1-5). Seven of his letters have survived; and in these he gives advice to Christians in different cities. He speaks not only of bishops, but of priests and deacons, and of what unity in the Church means:

"For as many as are of God and of Jesus Christ are with the bishop; and as many as shall repent and enter into the unity of the Church, these also shall be of God, that they may be living after Jesus Christ .... Wheresoever the bishop is, there let the people be, even as where Jesus is, there is the Universal Church... Be ye careful therefore to observe one Eucharist, for there is one flesh of our Lord Jesus Christ, and one cup unto union in His blood; there is one altar, as there is one [local] bishop, together with the priesthood and the deacons."

Finally I mention St. Irenaeus of Lyons, who died in 202 A.D. He had been a disciple of St. Polycarp, who in turn was a disciple of the Apostle John. You can see here the living continuity of the Faith. In his last years St. Polycarp was the sole survivor of the Apostolic Age, the last man still living who had personally known the Apostles. For this reason he was treated with great respect and veneration and "numerous disciples gathered around him to hear from his lips the last living echo of Apostolic teaching," as we learn from his life. 

The three generations of early Holy Fathers, which I’ve briefly outlined for you, brings us to the dawn of the third century, having covered roughly the first 170 years of the Church's life, from the Ascension of Christ in 33 A.D. to the death of lrenaeus in 202. You can see that each of these Fathers was acutely aware of his living connection with the Apostles and the Teaching he had received from them. 

It is my prayer that you will one day be enlightened by the Light of Christ and come to a fuller understanding of these things. 

Sincerely, in Christ,

Fr. Alexey Young

Orthodox America

Lord have mercy on me, a sinner!

Relevant Reading
First Epistle of St Clement to the Corinthians
Epistles of St Ignatius
Epistle of St Polycarp to the Philippians
St Irenaeus' "Against the Heresies"

Feast of the Protection of the Theotokos

I like this story. Holy Theotokos, pray for us!

On October 1 the Church celebrates the Feast of the Protection of the Theotokos which celebrates the appearance of the Mother of God at Blachernae in the tenth century. St. Andrew of Constantinople, his disciple St. Epiphanius, and a group of people, saw the Mother of God, during a vigil in the Church of Blachernae, near the city gates. 

They saw Theotokos walk down the center of the church. She knelt down and remained in prayer for a long time. Her face was covered in tears. Then she took her veil off and spread it over the people as a sign of protection. At that time, the people in the city were threatened by a barbarian invasion. After the appearance of the Mother of God, the city was spared from bloodshed and suffering.

What is important about the Feast of the Protection? First, we are reminded that the prayers of the Theotokos are very powerful. She was the Mother of Our Lord. She watched him as He grew up and, as a child, He came to her with His troubles. He was very close to her. So her nearness to Him is a comfort and a support to us. When we cry out to her, “Most Holy Theotokos, save us!” we proclaim that she who remained at the foot of the Cross can support us as we journey down the Way of the Cross.

This feast also reminds us that we should remember and be thankful for the good things that have been done for us. The Divine Liturgy encourages us: “remembering this saving commandment and all those things which have been done for us…” The Bible also says we should always recall the things God has done and thank Him. We also should thank Him for the intercessions of His Mother, remembering what she has done. We thank Him for the testimony of His saints,those known to us and those known only to God, and remember their deeds. 

A short essay I adapted for my son's religion lesson for 1 October

Most Holy Theotokos pray for me, a sinner

Relevant Reading
Feast of the Holy Skepi of the Theotokos
Facing Up to Mary

The Word of the Lord

Sing, O barren one who did not bear;
burst into song and shout,
you who have not been in labour!
For the children of the desolate woman will be more
than the children of her that is married, says the Lord.
Enlarge the site of your tent,
and let the curtains of your habitations be stretched out;
do not hold back; lengthen your cords
and strengthen your stakes.
For you will spread out to the right and to the left,
and your descendants will possess the nations
and will settle the desolate towns.

Do not fear, for you will not be ashamed;
do not be discouraged, for you will not suffer disgrace;
for you will forget the shame of your youth,
and the disgrace of your widowhood you will remember no more.
For your Maker is your husband,
the Lord of hosts is his name;
the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer,
the God of the whole earth he is called.
For the Lord has called you
like a wife forsaken and grieved in spirit,
like the wife of a man’s youth when she is cast off,
says your God.
For a brief moment I abandoned you,
but with great compassion I will gather you.
In overflowing wrath for a moment
I hid my face from you,
but with everlasting love I will have compassion on you,
says the Lord, your Redeemer.

This is like the days of Noah to me:
Just as I swore that the waters of Noah
would never again go over the earth,
so I have sworn that I will not be angry with you
and will not rebuke you.
For the mountains may depart
and the hills be removed,
but my steadfast love shall not depart from you,
and my covenant of peace shall not be removed,
says the Lord, who has compassion on you.

O afflicted one, storm-tossed, and not comforted,
I am about to set your stones in antimony,
and lay your foundations with sapphires.
I will make your pinnacles of rubies,
your gates of jewels,
and all your wall of precious stones.
All your children shall be taught by the Lord,
and great shall be the prosperity of your children.
In righteousness you shall be established;
you shall be far from oppression, for you shall not fear;
and from terror, for it shall not come near you.
If anyone stirs up strife,
it is not from me;
whoever stirs up strife with you
shall fall because of you.
See, it is I who have created the smith
who blows the fire of coals,
and produces a weapon fit for its purpose;
I have also created the ravager to destroy.
No weapon that is fashioned against you shall prosper,
and you shall confute every tongue that rises against you in judgement.
This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord
and their vindication from me, says the Lord.
Isaiah 54

Lord have mercy on me, a sinner.

Relevant Reading
Psalm 55

Out in the Fields with God

A Field of Poppies in France

The little cares that fretted me,
I lost them yesterday
Among the fields above the sea,
Among the winds at play,
Among the lowing of the herds,
The rustling of the trees,
Among the singing of the birds,
The humming of the bees.

The foolish fears of what might pass
I cast them all away
Among tile clover-scented grass,
Among the new-mown hay,
Among the hushing of the corn,
Where drowsy poppies nod,
Where ill thoughts die and good are born -
Out in the fields of God.
Author Unknown, often attributed to Elizabeth Barrett Browning

Quizzy Quizzy Quizzy

Your Result - St Macrina the Younger

You have a great spiritual influence on others and are the spiritual center of your family. You treasure asceticism and can live without “necessities.” You consider that foolishness and misunderstanding are the causes of the grief that attends the death of a beloved one and that often weighs down those who remain on earth. These arise from a failure to comprehend that the flesh passes away; being composite, the body alone is dissolved at death. The body lies in the grave; the body is insensate. The soul, however, remains sensate. It knows all that it knew when the body lived, and its knowing derives from what the body experienced and what the soul knew. The soul can still contemplate God and will be like God insofar as it sees His beauty.
Which Cappadocian are You?

I wish.

Lord have mercy on me, a sinner!

Relevant Reading
St Macrina, Devoted Sister
The Life of St Macrina as Written by St Gregory of Nyssa
The Cappadocian Fathers

Today's Theme Song

Crazy - Alana Davis

You've got your home of the brave

And I've got my land of the free.

You conform to what society says

And I conform to me.

Looking for light in the corners,

Getting caught in the spider web.

You look at me as though I'm giving a performance

When I'm just being myself

And you know that I'm doing alright

And I won't explain myself to you just to avoid a fight

How I'm living ain't correct,

But for me, its just right

Chorus:

I'm not completely insane.

I'm maybe just a little bit crazy.

There's no one to blame,

Got no shame 'bout my game,

Don't want nobody to save me.

I've got a pair of ruby slippers that

I don't wear much anymore

And if I had the nerve,

I'd click my heels and return

To the wonderland I knew before.

I'm waiting on a slow boat to China,

Gonna sail away to the sun.

I've been searching for myself,

And I know I'm gonna find her

If I break away from everyone.

So, the way that I act may not fit in.

Just because I have a mind of my own,

Doesn't mean its a sin.

I don't ask you to give up;

Don't expect me to give in.

Chorus

Some like to live for the moment,

Taking life into their hands every day.

And if they don't get killed,

They get so high off the thrill,

They could float to heaven anyway.

And others want to save for tomorrow,

Thinking money is security.

Well, I understand the need,

But I don't get the greed.

Y'know, they all seem pretty crazy to me.

You can tell by the expression I wear.

Though I seem a little strange to you

I don't really care.  I've got the freedom to be;

There are others like me everywhere...

Chorus

The Law of the Ugly Chair

Yesterday, I got tired of looking at this chair that has been in my living room for several years. Well, it's not actually a chair chair, it's really a desk. You know, one of those school desks that's all of one piece with a storage shelf on the bottom for books and that groove in the desk part for a pencil that's always too shallow. Well, I've had one for years now. It's old and needs some work--sanding and polishing etc. We were given it as a gift once upon a time and always intended to "do something" with it but never did.

Then the dramedy happened and it's just been sitting in the corner being piled upon for the last 3 years.

Yesterday, I got tired of moving it around so I could swiffer under it and decided to get rid of it. It just had to go, like so many other useless things in my life and once it was gone all I felt was relief. Now, I have a clear space where I had none before. I can chase Chelsea around with the swiffer unimpeded and  I don't have to look at it anymore.

Glenn Bland wrote, "...[You]cannot have both money and things...To accumulate money, you must give up things. But if you accumulate things, you will never have money. It's just that simple and yet few people really understand it." (Success: The Glenn Bland Method, p55-56). One of my favorite books. I don't always adhere to this philosophy, as my closets can attest, but for the last few years (for the most part) I have and the concept has proven itself true, time and again.

Don't get me wrong, I like my stuff but I think I like getting rid of stuff even more.  It gets in the way, caring for it takes up time I could better use elsewhere and it takes up room when I would much rather have empty space. I despise clutter. Christ said that our life does not consist of our stuff and God isn't going to be counting our toys when we die. An article I read recently reminded me of that silly saying a few years ago, "He who dies with the most toys wins". Good grief, if all I am working for is toys I can't play with because I'm dead, what is the point of having them?

Someone someplace is going to say/think: "What a trite, holier-than-thou hypocrite she is! She accumulates crap just like everyone else! I know her very well!" And that is partially true. I know I accumulate stuff sometimes it just happens. Being mindful of it and the dangers of acquisition, I think, means I am not a hypocrite. First, I recognize that some things are required for life in these United States. Second, God never said we couldn't have stuff. Third, He also never said we shouldn't have stuff. He said to be on guard against it because the accumulation of things for accumulation's sake will interfere with your relationship with Him. It's not money that is the root of all evil, but the love of it. By the same token, it's not stuff that is the root of all evil, it's the love of it.

I do try to remember that every time I wander through the nearest SuperTarget. It doesn't always work, but I am learning.

Next on the agenda: the storage, I mean, guest room! LOL!

Lord have mercy on me, a sinner!

Relevant Reading
Luke 12:15-21
1 Timothy 6:2-10
Success: The Glenn Bland Method
How to Solve Your Stuff Problem
The Law of the Ugly Chair

Are You Saved?

Have faith in Him and He will open paradise for you

I was saved. I am being saved. By God's mercy, I shall be saved.

Lord have mercy on me a sinner.

Thank You, Lord!!!

 Answer me when I call, O God of my right!
   You gave me room when I was in distress.
   Be gracious to me, and hear my prayer.

How long, you people, shall my honour suffer shame?
   How long will you love vain words, and seek after lies? Selah
But know that the Lord has set apart the faithful for himself;
   the Lord hears when I call to him.

When you are disturbed, do not sin;
   ponder it on your beds, and be silent. Selah
Offer right sacrifices,
   and put your trust in the Lord.

There are many who say, ‘O that we might see some good!
   Let the light of your face shine on us, O Lord!’
You have put gladness in my heart
   more than when their grain and wine abound.

I will both lie down and sleep in peace;
   for you alone, O Lord, make me lie down in safety.
Psalm 4

Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit;
Both now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen.

Lord have mercy on me a sinner!

Relevant Reading

Advertising :o)
Ruth 3:11
Isaiah 54

Happy New Year!

Icons of Creation 

In the Beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through Him and without Him not one thing came into being.

John 1:1-3

You who created all things in Your infinite wisdom, and set the times by Your own authority, grant Your Christian people victories. Blessing our comings and goings throughout this year, guide our works according to Your divine will.

GOArch.org

Another New Year. As usual, I am rather optimistic about whatever is to come but not so much that I lose sight of reality. Live in the real and name the lies is one of my favorite quotes and I try to live by it. This has been a good year in spite of some of the things that have happened to and around me. Sometimes I wonder if the "dramedy" will ever stop. However, the drama does not come from God (Isaiah 54:4-6; 11-17) and He promised me that He will see me through it all (Ruth 2:10-13, 3:11). 

I hang on to that promise with both hands and all my toes some days. LOL!

As the Lord only completed one part of creation at a time, I can only take one day at a time, one project at a time. Multi-tasking is a recipe for disaster with me. I know folks think that doing a bunch of stuff all at once is a virtue these days but it's not for me. If I want something done right, I need to concentrate on that one thing. So I've decided to stop trying to "create" multiple half-done messes and work on making one thing at a time "good". I guess you can say that is my "New Year's Resolution" (except I resolved to not do resolutions anymore ~snicker~).

As time has marched on, I do see progress, in spite of my resolution not to have resolutions. I see the continued development of dispassion  within me that God began last year. I see the achievement of goals that I set for myself in many areas of my life--personally and professionally. I see places where I have overcome fear--of circumstance, of people, whatever. I also see places that need A LOT of improvement. With God's grace, I will continue to see improvement. 

So, I'm enjoying this one-day-at-a-time journey I'm on with God. I know I kick and scream and get side-tracked regularly (Ooooh! Squirrel!) but He has the ability to put me back where I belong among those who want to journey with me. I am so grateful to and for those who have been with me thus far. (The Lord bless them for their willingness to put up with me!) 

So here's to this new year! My God give us all grace!

Lord have mercy on me, a sinner.

Relevant Reading
The Beginning
Speaking the Truth in Love
The Ecclesiastical New Year

Something Different

I have been covering my hair for the last few years. It's a long story but let me just say that it is soooo much simpler to obey God than argue with Him. He has infinite patience and knows all the arguments you are going to give Him even before you formulate them. So, if He's poking you to do something, you may as well go on and do it and save yourself some frustration.

That said, I've been covering my hair for a long while now but He never said that I have to do it in a certain way. Some days it's an elaborately wrapped and tucked scarf, other days it's a baseball cap, still others it's a bandanna or wide cloth head-band. I'm also always on the look out for new ways to tie my scarves and when I find new styles, I want to share.

Here is my latest discovery: The Style Underground. So far my favorite is the Urban Wrap Down Low.

Enjoy!

Lord have mercy on me a sinner.

Relevant Readings
Those Headcoverings
Free to Cover
Modesty Revisited