Interesting Reading

The Bible vs Modern Israel made for very interesting reading. I like it. It really settles some issues I've been (sort of) dealing with in my own mind about this. I think I'm no longer a Zionist (although I once was one) HOWEVER I do believe any country has the right to defend itself against constant attack.

JMO YMMV

Lord have mercy on me, a sinner.

Time

Time is relative. How fast an event happens will always vary from person to person depending upon their perspective. I remember when a year took forever to go by (my birthday is in November) and summer never seemed to show up. Now, time just flies by.

I went to see my family this past week. I'm always shocked to see my father and grandfather. Since we don't live in the same state and my circumstances are a bit on the iffy side sometimes, I don't get to see them as often as I would like. I know they are getting older but I don't actually realize it until it hits me in the face.

This picture was taken when I was in the fifth grade. This is how I remember my dad. He sounds the same as he did in when I was in the fifth grade. His voice hasn't changed at all! He tends to break out the "Wise Old Man" persona more often these days but basically he's the same guy on the inside.

On the outside however dad is very different. He is obviously getting older now and showing his age. Not that that is a bad thing, it is definitely not. It is always a shock though when I see him and have to remember, my dad (78) isn't going to be here forever. Neither is my grandfather (94).

Realizing this also brings home the fact that I am not going to be here forever either. It's very sobering. It's also freeing. I'm really starting to understand what it means to stop hanging onto what you cannot keep. The only thing that really stays is my life in Christ. Without maintaining that, even living forever would mean nothing because such a life would be a cold, bleak thing. Dad and granddaddy have both proved this out to me. I love them and hope I can live up to their examples.

Happy birthday, daddy! God grant you many more years to come!

Lord have mercy on me, a sinner.

Mothers' Day 2010 Reflections

Meanwhile, standing near the cross of Jesus were his mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing beside her, he said to his mother, ‘Woman, here is your son.’ Then he said to the disciple, ‘Here is your mother.’ And from that hour the disciple took her into his own home.

John 19:26-27

I like this passage. It became a simple way for me to reconcile my evProtestant uncomfortable-ness with the importance of Mary, by title "Theotokos" (Bearer of God), in my life as an Orthodox Christian. So many of my ev-Prot friends get really ansy at the thought of the Theotokos. They take her out and dust her off at Christmas but the rest of the time she weirds them out something fierce.

When my mom died (Jan 1995), I was really bereft. Mom was my anchor to all things real for me. It really wasn't until I took the Theotokos into my home and heart that I was able to (a) truly grieve her loss and (b) realize that losing my earthly mom did not mean I was "motherless". Just as Christ gave His mother to the disciple He loved, He had also given her to me. How cool is that? He gave me His mother to pray for me and for me to ask for her prayers and to tell all those wacky things I used to tell my mother.

Through understanding that His intent was not to create a goddess but give me a mother also helped me realize that my mom is also always praying for me and I can ask for her to pray for me, too. That went such a long way toward healing my heart as well. She didn't die, go to heaven and forget about me! How hurtful is that? Knowing that my mother and grandmother always pray for me before Christ's throne simply brings to tears to my eyes. O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting? (I Corinthians 15:55)

And I can use all the prayer I can get.

So a happy Mothers' Day to you, Holy Theotokos! Happy Mothers' Day to you mom! Happy Mothers' Day to you Suggie! Thank you so much for all of your prayers. Please continue to pray for me and please know that when I fall it is not because of your failings, but when I get it up it is only because of your intercession for me. Thank you!

O Lord God Almighty, Who wast pleased that Thine Only-begotten Son be incarnate of a woman that had not known marriage, and be made man for our salvation, and Who didst send Thine Angel Gabriel to the holy Virgin Mary with the good tidings of His conception, for that Thou hadst determined from before all ages that she should be the instrument of so great a Mystery! By her prayers, and those of all Thy Saints, announce to our souls the good tidings of forgiveness of sins, through Thy Grace, and joy that shall never be taken away; bespeak peace unto Thy people; make known to us the path by which we shall be well-pleasing unto Thy goodness, and set our feet on the way to Thy heavenly Kingdom.

Through the mercies and love for mankind of Thy Son, our Lord and master, with Whom Thou art blessed, together with Thine All-holy, and Good, and Life-creating Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages.

Amen!

Lord have mercy on me, a sinner!

Relevant Reading

The Orthodox Veneration of Mary