Clearing trails and fallen trees I Postpone the Day of My Own Repentance Every aspect of my life should be a reflection of my faith in Christ, yet I utterly fall short in living this out as a reality. I find it difficult to look closely at myself, and at
Category: The Morning Offering
Students from Trinity Lutheran College in Everett, WA. The monastic community welcomed students, along with their campus chaplain, Rev. Erik Samuelson, to the monastery on Friday. They traveled from Trinity Lutheran College, in Everett, WA. to perform a community service project for the monastic brotherhood. After helping the monks clear
A cargo ship sails north of Vashon Island The Danger of Prideful Self-assurance There is a minefield many do not notice, one that masquerades as the spiritual life. Academic theology, although it can be used in service to the Church, has also been the spiritual destruction of many. True theology
Archbishop Kyrill’s archpastoral visitation Humility Requires Struggle Only through struggle can we acquire humility. Our natural inclination is to flee struggle, and cling to our comfortable pride. When difficulties and humiliations come our way, we must embrace them, as from God. For the Lord knows what we need, and if
A Vashon Island dwelling Remembrance of God leads to Conversion of Heart The importance of having a regular confessor can not underestimated. Most of us find it uncomfortable to think upon our faults, failures, and sins, because we like to “feel good” about ourselves. We puff up our image around
The Devil can not Violate our FreedomThe devil does not have power over us, unless we give it to him. His power to tempt us, or to fight against us, is never beyond our ability to resist, for his power can never violate our freedom. The devil’s power is not
Brother Theofil bringing the bells Turning the Commute into a Monastic CellOver the past thirty years, I have lost count at the number of lay people who have voiced interest in monasticism. Many have told me, had they’d become Orthodox at a younger age, they might have forgone marriage, for
Angels Among Us David Fouty, and his father, Robert Fouty, M.D. (click photo to enlarge) Among my counted friends is a man by the name of David Fouty, son of other friends, Robert Fouty, M.D., and Dorothy Fouty. David, who is in his late forties, was born with Downs Syndrome.
Balancing a World of Body and Soul In the age of health clubs, diet fads, belly tucks, face lifts, and hair transplants, we seem, as a species, to have gone mad with our focus on image. Important as exercise is, when we become so focused on body image, that we
…and render unto God what is God’s“Render unto Caesar what is Caesar’s and render unto God what is God’s (Mark 12:17).” This words, spoken by Christ to His disciples, are a good reminder to all of us to walk in all humbleness, love, and compassion. We must be quick to