“Father is not a title!” By now my parishioners and catechumens are sick of hearing me say this. But I say it so much because there is a real healing truth in this reality. The Church isn’t some collection of “club members” or a “society for the preservation of baklava.” No, the Church is a Family. The Church is the New Society. The Church has fathers and mothers and sisters and brothers.…
We have over 30 families going through our A Journey to Fullness class at the parish and they keep hearing me say “This is a family, not a corporation or a club.” One of the key aspects of Orthodoxy that drew me to the Church was this mindset away from church as a religious club and a serious commitment to an actual community. In a society that is increasingly gripped in the…
We have over 30 families going through our A Journey to Fullness class at the parish and they keep hearing me say “This is a family, not a corporation or a club.” One of the key aspects of Orthodoxy that drew me to the Church was this mindset away from church as a religious club and a serious commitment to an actual community. In a society that is increasingly gripped in the…
So, why is it so easy to take advice from a stranger, but not your own family? Alright, I’ll confess to being a bit frustrated. Here’s the story: I had a dear family member bend my ear for several hours about a problem. At the end of this marathon, I gave what I thought was some wise counsel. This precious one listened and thanked me and then promptly ignored my advice for…
So, why is it so easy to take advice from a stranger, but not your own family? Alright, I’ll confess to being a bit frustrated. Here’s the story: I had a dear family member bend my ear for several hours about a problem. At the end of this marathon, I gave what I thought was some wise counsel. This precious one listened and thanked me and then promptly ignored my advice for…
“You’re making a spectacle of yourself!” I remember when I first heard those words from a relative. You see, I’d just discovered that I could make people laugh, and I remember feeling the thrill at that ability. So, I started being a clown all the time. But an uncle, watching me carry on as a just turned 13 year old boy warned me about always trying to be the center of attention!…
