Christ is born! “You’re making a spectacle of yourself.” With that, my 5th grade teacher, Mrs. Thompson, set about correcting me for being the class clown during math! Since I didn’t know what a “spectacle” was, she suggested I look it up! Mrs. Thompson was a really good teacher! “Spectacle” is defined as “a visually striking performance, or display; an event or scene regarded for its visual impact.” It comes to usā¦
“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.ā¦
We have over 30 families going through our A Journey to Fullness class at the parish and they keep hearing me say āThis is a family, not a corporation or a club.ā 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 theā¦
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 theā¦
So, why is it so easy to take advice from a stranger, but not your own family? Alright, Iāll confess to being a bit frustrated. Hereās 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 forā¦
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 forā¦
“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!ā¦
