I have heard that St. Seraphim of Sarov would greet everyone he met with, “Christ is Risen, My Joy.” It did not matter what season of the year it was. He would always use the Paschal greeting, and rather than use a name, he would call each person, “My Joy.” I do not think he just had trouble remembering names. He truly felt joy in the presence of each visitor that came to him. I was considering what that would be like to look at each person we meet with joy like that. We so often see other ... [Read more]
Reflections
This category contains 24 article(s).
Where Are You?
Good therapy helps a person to get clearer on who they are. Where we are with ourselves, where we are with our relationships, where we are with our personal habits and ultimately where we are with our connection with God. Self reflection is a courageous choice of those who seek a healthy life. Socrates is known for saying, “The unexamined life is not worth living." Viktor Frankl, a famous Austrian psychiatrist and holocaust survivor wrote: “When we are no longer able to ... [Read more]
GREAT LENT: A time for reflection, responsibility and transformation
Most parents realize that keeping their babies healthy requires taking them to the pediatrician for their “well baby” check-ups. At each visit the doctor weighs and measures their kids to make sure they are growing at a healthy rate, checking eyesight and hearing, and answering any questions about behavior and health issues. As parents, we can’t wait for our children to reach important milestones – the first pounds gained, sitting up straight, rolling over, crawling, walking and eating solid ... [Read more]
Bird’s Nests and Healing Hearts
There is a story from the early Christian monastics that tells of a student approaching his spiritual father and saying something like, “Father, I am continually struggling with these wandering thoughts. What should I do?” The father replies, “Can you stop those birds from flying over our heads?” “No, father “Can you stop them from swooping down and building a nest on your ... [Read more]
Come and See: Christ transfigures darkness into light through Song
There’s an old story that may not be true about a monk that trapped a demon in his cell. The demon begged release, and the monk said that he would release him only if the demon sang the songs of the angels, which the demon had sung prior to the fall. The demon protests but finally gives in. As the demon sings, he is transfigured back into his original angelic being and is saved from hell. That is a very brief rendition of the story, and I have no way of knowing if it is true or not; however, I ... [Read more]
Thanksgiving In All Things
“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]
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]
