I have been an Orthodox Christian for about six months now. Well, I have been able to receive the Holy Mysteries for about that long. It has been a great source of strength and joy in my life. But like anything, when life becomes full of distractions, the spiritual life can be put on cruise control, so to speak. I got to thinking of it as being analogous to the Fellowship’s ride down the River Anduin. Having just come through the Lenten period and the fifty days of Paschal joy, the Ascension and Pentecost, it feels like the flow of life is “back to normal”. And while there is nothing wrong with that, to me, there is a great cause for concern.

As with any river, one’s senses are heightened  when there are rapids, rocks, or battle. Once the intensity is over, and the course of the river returns to its regular flow, there is a letting down of the guard. One begins to lose track of the passing of time, as it did with those in the boats of Lorien, on Anduin. For myself, the intensity of Lent and the season of Pascha that followed was a time of spiritual intensity, which heightened my senses and helped me focus. It was like a ride down the rapids. Dangerous, but enlivening. With the return to “everyday life”, I can sense myself “losing track of time”.

It was at these points in the journey of the Fellowship that they were in the most danger. In fact, it was during a slow drift downstream that one of the attacks came from shore. I need to keep my own guard up, and be ready for the “night attack”. It’s times like these that the words of Ephesians about the armor of God become more than just verses to memorize, or help our kids memorize for their Sunday School classes.

One of the things I am grateful for, is that our Orthodox faith is not just intellectual or ethereal. It involves our bodies, it calls us back to attention when we start to “chase butterflies”. I am always glad to have my attention snapped back when I drift during the Liturgy, Vespers or Matins. Just like the morning prayers, I ask God to help me to be diligent and faithful. Lord, keep me from slipping.

These two videos are lectures given by Fr A. James Bernstein at St Elijah Orthodox Church. Fr James’ book Surprised By Christ was a big part of my journey to the Orthodox Church. These lectures are an excellent resource as well (and cheaper). I found them very moving and informative. They covered material he had not put in the book. Enjoy and discuss…

So I recently had a really dumb thought enter my head. “What would the story of the Lord Of The Rings look like if Chuck Norris had inherited the One Ring instead of Frodo?” Here’s how I see the scenario going down:

First, after Gandalf told him about the perils of the ring, he’d put on the ring. Sauron would sense that Chuck Norris had on the ring, which would result in his immediate implosion, along with the Ringwraiths, Orcs, Trolls and any other foul creatures. Then the ring would melt from the fire of his rage and be unmade. He’d then tell Gandalf it’s all covered and they should sit back on the porch of Bag-End, have a beer and blow smoke rings. After Gandalf made a few “clever” smoke rings that out did his, Chuck would give him the “impending roundhouse-kick look” which would out an end to that. The End. No messy tragedy, trials, death, etc. What’s more, he wouldn’t even think twice about it.

Like any of you reading this, even I have to admit the idea is idiotic on so many levels (and yet awesome on just as many). It ruins the whole genius of the story. All the pain and agony of the journey to Mordor is meant to be that way. There is nothing that is needless in the story.

I have come to see our salvation like that. There is nothing needless, superfluous or random. All is meant for our salvation. Sure, it would be nice for there to be a nice, neat end to all of it. Why have the pain, the suffering, the anguish of this life? It is the process that brings us to salvation.

As we complete Great Lent and move into Holy Week, I see that it can be no other way. It really is a BRIGHT sorrow. All of it is ultimately for my salvation, though it is painful to go through. And like Chuck Norris getting the ring instead of Frodo, anything other than the life we now live – any so-called quick fix – would simply ruin the story, so to speak. Just as the psalmist learned to praise God in the midst of his trials, may we praise Him for the story of our life, no matter how painful it is.

May your Holy Week be blessed.

Below is a link to a great lecture given by Fr Thomas Hopko, on ancient christian worship. Fr Thomas explains how Christians have been coming together in worship, from the earliest times in the Book of Acts, until the present day. One of the things that struck me the most, was the point that worship, prayers, breaking of the Bread and Apostolic Doctrine are never things we make up, they are what we enter in to, as already being, because they are ordained by God. This isn’t the kind of magical thinking that people have of Christian Faith, but is the ancient understanding the Church has had of her worship from the beginning.
I am subscribed to Father Thomas Hopko Lectures podcast though iTunes and Ancient Faith Radio. That is how I came to hear the lecture. Hear is the link to the podcast on the AFR website. Enjoy, it’s a wonderful teaching. It’s about and hour and a half.
From Shadow To Reality – Ancient Christian Worship

Here is a cool link to a Roman Catholic priest, who sees a connection between the Feast of the Annunciation and the Lord Of The Rings:  http://www.patheos.com/blogs/standingonmyhead/2012/03/ladyday-frodo-baggins-and-happy-new-year.html

Enjoy the reflection. I think it is a good one.

The Departure of the Elves.

         I have been reading the Lord of the Rings to my girls aver the past couple months. One of the things I found interesting, was a phrase from Galadriel, in which she describes the history of the elves as a long, slow defeat. Overcome slowly but surely by darkness and change. Whenever I read these statements and other passages where some great city of elves, dwarves or men once stood, but is now a place of desolation, it saddens me (as much as it is possible for fiction to sadden someone). Because the books never fully explain what had happened, I wondered how such a glorious society could be overcome by evil and wiped out. Tolkien’s longing for and lamenting of the passing of days gone by translates to the reader.

I started thinking about this  in the light of the beginning of Lent. Unlike the elves, who lived an endless string of sorrows, from which death and the sea were the only escape, pining for a past that will never come, we walking in an anticipation of the victory that already is and is yet to come. In the prayers of Cheesefare Week we are called to enter the fast eagerly, as an offering to the Lord. We make a great preparation by repentance, for the joyous Resurrection of our Lord God and Savior, Jesus Christ. What a difference that is from a dismal life of defeat that we seek to escape, after no hope of victory is found. We resign ourselves to no “better place” in the hereafter, but we live in connection with that “hereafter” here and now.

The great thing about this season of repentance, is not just the glory that comes on the other end of a “dark” struggle, but the constant reminder by “defeat” that God’s mercy and grace is our victory, not ourselves. By that I mean this: whenever we fail in some point of the fast, or give in to sin in some way, we cast ourselves upon the mercy of God. And God, who is plenteous in mercy, gives it freely.

I entered last Lent with an excitement and anticipation. This year is no different, except that now I am an Orthodox Christian. The feeling is quite indescribable. I am entering Lent fresh out of the waters of baptism, having received the Body and Blood of Christ several times, as well as having the cleansing of the “second baptism” in the holy mystery of confession. It is not a feeling that says, “I can do this.” as though I had some sufficiency by virtue of rituals I have passed through. It is a feeling of peace, strength (His and His Church), cleanness of conscience, connection and belonging. I am sure that before too long, I will feel the full force of my sinfulness trying to pull me down. For now, I feel that eagerness we are all called to in the prayers of the Church.

May we all find grace this Lenten season as we struggle together, in preparation for His Holy Resurrection. Of all I ask forgiveness in anything which I have offended any one of you. A blessed Lent to all of you.