Let's face it; we all have to deal with unpleasant realities. You know the situations I'm talking about: those moments in life when there either a difficult confrontation that has to happen or a struggle with bureaucracy or just a difficult relationship that has to end or change. It's just not fun. It's scary. It's…
October was Clergy Appreciation Month! Did you know that? Those of us in the clergy did! Of course October is also International "Walk-to-School" month, so don't get too excited!
Seriously, there is something powerful about appreciation. But there is something insidious about seeking appreciation. What a fine line it is to encourage the good virtue…
Socrates said "Beware the barrenness of a busy life."
Sometimes, I must confess I fall into the trap of being so busy doing things "for" God that I forget to actually "be with" God! A fatal error! But, we moderns pride ourselves on our "productivity" and "Taking care of business." We scramble to fill every…
Listen to what St. Theophan the Recluse says in his brilliant "Unseen Warfare": "Refuse to listen to the devil when he whispers to you: give me now, and you will give tomorrow to God. No, no! Spend all the hours of your life in a way pleasing to God; keep in your mind the thought…
"You are what you eat." So goes the the saying that has at times served as a means to get people to have better diets, and a way for philosophers to reduce the human person to merely a thinking animal, and even to theologians trying to have folks consider the profound teaches of the Eucharist.
For…
Say what you will about the old TV shows: They were naive. They weren't completely honest. They were sentimental. All of that may be true, but at least they attempted to foster the best of our hopes and dreams rather than pandering to our lowest desires. One such show was "Father Knows Best." Robert Young…
Well, the truth is I was worried (OK, actually worried and scared). I had never faced anything like this before and all I had ever heard was this situation was serious. And it was. But as I stood there waiting to face the music I so dreaded, I noticed something. My worry and fear were…
One of the greatest attractions to me towards the Orthodox Church was the continuity of practice and, more importantly, a real connection to the People of God.
There's an old story about a British journalist visiting the library of one of the ancient monasteries on Mt. Athos in Greece. He was walking among the stacks with…
The playground bully was speechless. He was bigger than me. He was stronger than me. And he was better at fighting than me in every way except one. I was faster on my feet with a verbal response. He had just taunted me about being a "weak, mama's boy" and I responded "I know you…
Distracted again! And once again the familiar reminder! "Sweetheart, stop watching the IPad and finish your homework." Back to the task, but slowly the distraction returns and the pull of what I want rather than what I need starts its all too familiar tug of war inside my precious 4 year old. But, hey, she's…