A certain monk who was disturbed in his soul, stricken with
temptations and afflictions, sought refuge with Fr. Callinicus (+ 1930)
to find relief. After he had explained his situation, he received a
wise admonition.
"Listen, my child," the Elder said to him, "Take this bucket and
fill it with water. Then throw dirt inside and mix it."
He did as he was told.
"Now, do you see anything inside?" the Elder asked the monk.
"No, Elder, because the water is clouded."
The Elder continued the discussion for some time. Kind and full of
love, Fr. Callinicus spiritually strengthened the sorrowful monk. After
a while he told the monk to examine the water.
"It has just now begun to clear up," he observed.
The edifying talk continued for yet a little while, and then Elder
Callinicus reminded him to look at the water again.
"It has become perfectly clear. In the bottom I can pick out some
little pebbles very easily."
The wise Elder closed the discussion with these words:
"Something of the sort has happened to you, too. At the present,
your mind is like the muddy water. Do not be upset, however. Have some
patience, and in two or three months the trouble and muddiness will
settle, and you will see how much clearer and straighter you will think."
And things developed precisely as he said.

Archimandrite Cherubim, Contemporary Ascetics of Mount Athos, vol. I

My good friend, Mary, was Chrismated into the Orthodox Church on Sunday morning before Liturgy. It was an incredibly beautiful service and on one side of her stood her wonderful husband and the other side stood humbly me, who she asked to be her Sponsor.

Please keep her in your prayers, and Congratulations, Mary!

Tuesday Three.

Xavier and I attended a “Mom and Son-a-palooza” on Saturday night. It was really cute – boys were there from 1-5th grade with their moms. There was dancing (Xavier knows the Chicken Dance – I was surprised. It must be those Italian genes), games, ice cream sundaes, hula hoops, a performing pig show, and best of all – Mom and Me Photos.

I spent two hours at the dentist this morning. Blech. I was sure it was going to be a quick cavity fill and didn’t even tell my boss I had an appointment since it was at 8am. Yikes! After ten, she started calling around looking for me as she was sure I was in a ditch somewhere. And, while the numbness has worn off, my mouth still hurts.

My hands are really dry this winter – I have no idea if it is because of our colder than normal weather or wetter than normal weather (the two weather patterns we’ve had lately), but I am imploring you guys to give me product recommendations

Today, I looked at each member of my church and asked his or her forgiveness. As we enter into Lent, the Orthodox Church reminds us that we have all sinned against those in our lives and that as we begin our Lenten journey, where we turn our focus inward – where have I failed.

As Father Alexander Schmemann reminds us in his book “Great Lent”

What is the meaning of this rite? Why is it that the Church wants us
to begin Lenten season with forgiveness and reconciliation? These
questions are in order because for too many people Lent means
primarily, and almost exclusively, a change of diet, the compliance
with ecclesiastical regulations concerning fasting. They understand
fasting as an end in itself, as a "good deed" required by God and
carrying in itself its merit and its reward. But, the Church spares
no effort in revealing to us that fasting is but a means, one among
many, towards a higher goal: the spiritual renewal of man, his return
to God, true repentance and, therefore, true reconciliation. The
Church spares no effort in warning us against a hypocritical and
pharisaic fasting, against the reduction of religion to mere external
obligations. As a Lenten hymn says:

In vain do you rejoice in no eating, O soul!
For you abstain from food,
But from passions you are not purified.
If you persevere in sin, you will perform a useless fast.

Now, forgiveness stands at the very center of Christian faith and of
Christian life because Christianity itself is, above all, the
religion of forgiveness. God forgives us, and His forgiveness is in
Christ, His Son, Whom He sends to us, so that by sharing in His
humanity we may share in His love and be truly reconciled with God.
Indeed, Christianity has no other content but love. And it is
primarily the renewal of that love, a return to it, a growth in it,
that we seek in Great Lent, in fasting and prayer, in the entire
spirit and the entire effort of that season. Thus, truly forgiveness
is both the beginning of, and the proper condition for the Lenten
season.

In a beautiful reminder of why we are doing this rite, we sing the Paschal hymns. It’s a reminder of where we are going with our Lent, as well as a reminder that sometimes people will die before getting to that bright, joyful night.

I want to take this time to look into the eyes of each of my Blog readers and sincerely ask your forgiveness for the sins I have committed in thought, word or deed against you.