Prejudice is always the ugly counterfeit to true discernment and good judgment. But we humans all too often confuse these realities to our own detriment. As a man who has grown up in the American South, I can readily attest to the sickness of prejudice in society, in communities,...
"But, father, why is this happening to me?" It was a hard question to hear, mainly because I didn't have an answer. I was sitting across from this precious father as he told me about the medical diagnosis of his little girl. It wasn't good, and he didn't understand...
"Poor me! Are you enjoying your little pity party?" She had a pouting look on her face as she chided me for complaining about how some of my friends were treating me. It was a lesson I wouldn't soon forget. She was my single mom and she simply didn't...
St. John of Damaskos says: "Without attentiveness and watchfulness of the intellect we cannot be saved and rescued from the devil, who walks about ‘like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour’" Sounds pretty serious. And yet, the virtue of attentiveness is so very difficult and elusive. I guess...
Orthodox Christianity is an eschatological religion! O, Mr. Fancypants with your big words! :-) Ok, Orthodoxy is the Faith that keeps eternity in mind and the ultimate victory of Christ over all darkness. Is that better? In fact, the reality that eternity is more real than these temporary events is seen...
St. Paul tells the Galatians the truth about being a serious follower of Jesus Christ. In doing this, St. Paul reveals the wisdom of the Faith to form us and shape us in how we choose to live. The truth is we all make choices, both big and small....
There is a powerful word in the wisdom of the Orthodox Faith that acts as a real warning to you and me. It is the word “prelest.” It literally means “the state of spiritual delusion or deception.” This is a great spiritual illness in the teaching of the Church...
It scared me to death! I was convinced something was lurking in the dark in my room, and I wasn't about to shut my eyes! After all, it was only my constant vigilance and watchfulness that was keeping whatever was "out there" away from me, right? Imagine my surprise...
One of the greatest attractions to me towards the Orthodox Church was the continuity of practice and, more importantly, a real connection to the People of God. There’s an old story about a British journalist visiting the library of one of the ancient monasteries on Mt. Athos in Greece. He was...
The playground bully was speechless. He was bigger than me. He was stronger than me. And he was better at fighting than me in every way except one. I was faster on my feet with a verbal response. He had just taunted me about being a "weak, mama's boy"...
