Staying connected to family It is always sad to lose a family member in death, but it is also sad that it often takes a funeral to bring together relatives who haven’t seen each other in years. It is from this perspective that I realize I, as the oldest of
On the importance of being a good father I’ll forever be grateful for the love and support I received from my father. My dad never let a day pass without assuring his two sons of his love and acceptance. Albert Parsons always imaged to his sons the importance of living
We must live as the Lord requires of us As we examine how we live our lives as Christians, we look to those who leave an impression of goodness, kindness, and humility, as examples of the person we would like to become. That saintly person, by their every example, exudes
Death can be a mystery precisely because the triumph over death is not a mystery As a priest and monk of the Russian Orthodox Church, I am comfortable with the mystery of death, as all Christians should be. Death can be a mystery precisely because the triumph over death is
If we fear to love we will remain dead There are those who fear commitment for fear of loss. They fear the other will either leave them, or be lost in death, so they remain aloof from any possible relationship. Some put on a facade of indifference, for fear of
The willingness to suffer with the other person What does it mean to truly love another person? It means we carry the other person in our heart. If we do not bring the other person into our hearts, we do not really love them. If we are unwilling to help
We must embrace our material self, together with our soul Unlike angels, who are entirely spiritual beings, God has made each of us as creatures dwelling in a material world. To be whole, we must worship God both in body and soul. This teaching is central to our Christian faith
More than acquittal and justification Salvation can not be explained in legalistic terms of acquittal and justification, for salvation is much more than simply being forgiven and getting into heaven. The close tie between faith and works, when it comes to the Orthodox view of salvation, is not about being
Being happy ourselves we are more likely to bring about happiness in others Gratitude is an affirmation of goodness, for in our being grateful we affirm that there are good things in the world, and good people that are part of our lives. Our being grateful does not mean that
Fasting is more than simply abstaining from food Some years ago I discovered the following list of fasting suggestions. I have no idea who originally came up with this wonderful list, but I thought it was wonderful the day I discovered it, and I still do. This is a good