“Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” - 1 Thess. 5:16-18 I have always loved Thanksgiving. The table laden with favorite foods that, for hours, have tempted your senses with the aroma of their delicacies. The warmth of home and hearth, the time devoted to family when every other concern takes second place. Even when, during high school in upstate New York I was violently ill with the flu going around and couldn’t ... [Read more]
Navigating the Cycles of Marriage
On our wedding day, we took our first steps as husband and wife and relished our joining together in the sanctity of the sacrament of marriage. We each came to the Altar with our own beliefs about marriage and what married life would hold for us as a couple. The future was bright in our minds, and our love was overflowing. This romantic phase of our life as a couple is common to most of us when we are just starting out. Everything is new, filled with hopes, dreams, and promise. We embrace the ... [Read more]
A Pathway Through Mourning
“Life is a sacred journey and a gift of God,” writes Orthodox priest and theologian Alexander Schmemann (of blessed memory) in For the Life of the World. “All that exists is God’s gift to man, and it all exists to make God known to man, and to make man’s life communion with God.” Not surprisingly, our “sacred” journey is often rife with change and challenges. Along with these disruptions, we may also experience a sense of loss—in all dimensions of life: physical, relational, emotional, ... [Read more]
Connecting Through Christ for Healthier Family Relationships
Love is the only thing that matters and the only thing worth living for. Still, despite our best intentions, many of us tend to miss the mark when we communicate with others—especially those we love most—as negative patterns and destructive relational cycles veer us off course. When that happens, it’s important to keep in mind that the way we approach and respond to each other is paramount to deepening our connections. But old habits die hard, so how might we move in a better ... [Read more]
Jesus and New Year’s Resolutions
We can likely create support groups based on a lifetime of well-intentioned—but failed—New Year’s resolutions. The new year, optimistically, offers another chance to get it right—better diet, better budget, better life. In 2017, I will reflect on what I didn't get right in 2016 and aim for a course correction within the next 365 days, when I will take self-inventory again. There is something about the idea of “new” that seems to give us hope. A new kitchen will magically make us better hosts. ... [Read more]
In Stillness and Silence: Reflecting on the Nativity of Christ
The second week of December brought a rare snowstorm to the Northwest. Seeing my backyard blanketed in white was a bit nostalgic for me. When it snows, it takes me back to my childhood in the Midwest, building snowmen, ice skating on the pond and sledding with friends. As a father, I had the opportunity, recently, to relive the past. While I was enjoying watching my children create snow angels, throw snowballs, and compete to see who can travel the fastest and the farthest on their sleds, I ... [Read more]
Reflections on Confession – Part 1
It’s hard to imagine a marriage or close friendship without some sort of forgiveness being asked of one another—at some point. In the protracted dance of life, we have surely stepped on each other’s toes, if you will, and have felt hurt along the way. And likewise, we have—regretfully—caused each other to suffer. If we’ve done something that hurts, distorts or distances a deep and loving relationship, naming it, claiming it, and apologizing for what has happened is essential to restoring it. ... [Read more]
Obedience to God’s Will
Our duty and concern must be how to please God and our fellow men; we should not be preoccupied with our needs, as God will take care of them. There is a silent spiritual agreement between God and man. He will look after us, while we will concentrate on how to live our lives according to His will. "Cast all your anxieties on Him, for He cares about you," (1 Peter 5:7)—Elder Paisios of the Holy Mountain (Athos). How true this is. Our goal should be to please God and care for our fellow man. ... [Read more]
Book Review – Parenting Toward the Kingdom
In Parenting Toward the Kingdom: Orthodox Christian Principles of Child-Rearing (Ancient Faith Publishing), Philip Mamalakis, PHD, aims to “connect the daily struggles of family life and parenting to timeless truths of the Orthodox Christian Church.” By invoking centuries of combined wisdom from St. Paul, St. John Chrysostom, St. Theophan the Recluse, St. Porphyrios—and many others—Dr. Mamalakis transcends time and space with a generous offering on parenting, including research from the field of ... [Read more]
Be Fruitful and Multiply
In his second interview with OCN (Orthodox Christian Network), Fr. Timothy Pavlatos likens the blessings of children to “precious jewels in the crown of marriage” while also explaining the meaning of God's command: “Be fruitful and multiply,” (Genesis: 1:28). The miracle of having children, says Fr. Timothy, is an expression of God’s love for all humanity and an opportunity to be co-creators with Him—something that is beyond comprehension, though not beyond the human experience. Take a ... [Read more]
