In my continuing journey through Diary of a Russian Priest, I was struck by these words, which Fr. Alexander wrote in counsel to a young person: I advise you to keep a diary. This helps one to study oneself, saves one from making the same mistakes, keeps the past alive. It is worth while noting every great joy, sorrow,…
This morning, I am welcoming Melinda Johnson, friend and fellow author back to Time Eternal. She’s sharing with us a reflection she wrote some years ago that to me hits on an important and sometimes painful question: how do we find purpose in our lives? Many of us try to enact meaning in our lives by seeking after…
Last week, my husband and I went to the funeral for his godfather, Demetrios, who had fallen asleep a few days prior from cancer. May his memory be eternal. At one point during the visitation, I came into the room where Demetrios’ body lay and found my husband standing quietly in the back corner while others milled around…
Today’s guest post is from my friend and chef extraordinaire, Melissa Naasko. Cool story: Melissa planned the menu for the recent Ancient Faith Women’s retreat (Nov 15-18), which means I got to spend the first few days of the fast eating her Lenten handiwork. Some of the best fasting “conference food” I’ve ever had! Today Melissa is reflecting…
So, the head cold that has been looming on the horizon lo these several weeks seems to be blossoming with a vengeance in my sinuses. It’s less the cold that’s bothering me and more the resultant fatigue. I’ve been trying to figure out how to scrap together some semblance of a blog post in this state when I…
Welcome to Day 14 of the Nativity Fast (NC)! (Has it really only been two weeks?) In this morning’s edition of the blogathon, Richard Barrett, executive director of AGES Initiatives, shares with us what he’s learned in recent years about the tradition of Saranteleitourgo. If you have no idea what that means, keep reading–you won’t be disappointed. ~*~ Three…
As I wrote Monday, I’ve been reading Alexander Elchaninov this Nativity and have found his meditations to be a great source of encouragement. In that post, I reflected on Elchaninov’s words about living life as it actually is, in the present, rather than retreating into our constructed notions of past or future ideals. Today I am sharing a…
This morning I am delighted to introduce one of my good friends and music aficionado, Sarah Bereza. She’s going to tell us a bit about how she adopted a morning prayer and singing routine with her toddler… ~*~ Do you wish you prayed every morning? Or most mornings? Or at least, some mornings? For a long time, I didn’t pray…
What are you reading this Nativity? In the past, I have shared the books I frequently return to this season (here and here). This year, I’m also reading through The Diary of a Russian Priest (SVS Press, 1967), a gathering of reflections by Fr. Alexander Elchaninov. This is a perfect book for devotional reading because it consists of brief, poignant observations,…
Now that US Thanksgiving has passed, we are really heading into the Christmas season. Everything around us seems to remind us that Christmas is coming–the dull weather, the cold temps, and the Christmas music blaring from store speakers. For many of us, December is not so much a high point of Christian joy but of spiritual despondency. This…