As I walk from my office to the car I find myself looking up. I find my self looking up a lot lately. I am completely enamored with clouds and trees and the beauty they create. Ever since I read Everywhere Present and the chapter on “We live in an altar” I have made a… Continue reading Looking Up
Tag: quotes
Maxim Week 49
Have a daily schedule of activities, avoiding whim and caprice. Again, the Holy Fathers teach us that idiorhythmia, capriciousness, whimsicalness is the cause of all of our downfall. We have to be disciplined. We have to have a rule for ourselves, and try and follow it. Of course, the rule is not some kind of… Continue reading Maxim Week 49
Struggles
The last two days feel frozen. Frozen feelings. Stuck in a rut. But yet incredibly busy. As I have shared before, I struggle at times with fighting those "demons at noonday." This is one of those times. Intellectually I can fight. I know what's needed. I pray. I listen and search. I want some answers.… Continue reading Struggles
You Must Not Sorrow
As promised, let's take a look at what St. Seraphim had to say about idleness and despondency. Continuing in the same paragraph we read yesterday about acquiring peace St. Seraphim touches on despondency. In the same way the Saint warned about struggles with despondency, "You should throw off despondency, and strive to have a joyful… Continue reading You Must Not Sorrow
Saint Seraphim
My inspiration. My mentor. St. Seraphim of Sarov is an incredible follower of Christ and if only I could emulate his life even partially. I came across a new book about him and am thoroughly enjoying it. It is incredibly rich with stories of his life. St. Seraphim Wonderworker of Sarov and His Spiritual Inheritance… Continue reading Saint Seraphim
Maxim Week 47
Give advice to others only when asked to do so or when it is your duty to do so. This is very important. You don’t go around giving free advice or counsel. If people ask us, we tell them. I was asked, “Father Tom, say some things on Ancient Faith Radio. I say: “Okay, cause… Continue reading Maxim Week 47
Maxim Week 46
Accept criticism gratefully but test it carefully. We are not obliged to put into practice every criticism that’s given to us. Sometimes the criticism is false. But we certainly must welcome it, be grateful for it, test it. And St. John Chrysostom said, even when we’re accused of something, even if we think it’s not… Continue reading Maxim Week 46
The Joy of the Kingdom
My dear husband, sent me an email to share with me an amazing find from Fr. Alexander Schmemann. He knew I would be thrilled to read this. The joy of the Kingdom: it always worries me that, in the multi-volume systems of dogmatic theology that we have inherited, almost every term is explained and discussed… Continue reading The Joy of the Kingdom
Maxim Week 45
Be defined and bound by God alone and not by people. We don’t let anyone define our life. God defines our life. And even the closest people to us should not be defining our life—our parents, our spouses. No, only God is defining who we are, and we’re only bound to his definition. Fr. Thomas… Continue reading Maxim Week 45
Maxim Week 44
When I was working on this I decided to ask for help from my family. This is a tough one to elaborate on. Father Thomas doesn't say much more about this Maxim. He does say this, which is heard in the original podcast... Don’t defend or justify yourself. The Saints say: “Those who try to… Continue reading Maxim Week 44
Kindler of Joy! 