Perhaps it is because your analysis and summary of what you have also experienced is so similar to mine, and so true beyond that, I honestly think it's the post of the year, my friend. Great work and thank you.
Yes, anything theoretically can be reconciled, but you and I both know that what effectively things turn out to be and look like in the big picture is the most important. Indeed, God is working through all of this but it's evident to me (and to you) that while we give the materialism stuff some lip service, most of us in America, and certainly the older boomers and silents, are hooked on the "juice" so to speak.
Precisely. I say this as someone who Fs around all the time, has done well in life materially, and has been fortunate to have done very well. That doesn't mean I'm not honest about what I am, what I see, and what I have as expectations. I think you are right also with the younger priests being far more aware, and analyst gets into that later as well (they are more ideal and less experienced, but that also can be better because they can really see things the older people just get lazy and ignore).
This is what I find so amusing; even the Christians are far more hooked on the good life and what they were seeking in the new world than they admit. I speak with family members (immediate) all the time about our extended family and the generational realities of exactly what you are saying, they are spot on. When I visited Serbia, by the way, I found that in Belgrade the serious Orthodox were doing public processions to remind their kinfolk/countryment that they are Orthodox and that should be important. So I think modernity has this, even in really faithful countries like that (still they are a minority, the real devoted/faithful).
I don't know because I haven't shaken down many priests. It's funny because I'm fairly convinced that we are right here and that it's a waste of time and I almost don't want to be disappointed in being "right." I've told you or others, I'm pretty sure, about how some of the better antiochian priests and bishops commented on this (I heard from others who attended a young men's retreat or some such thing) and the response was that "the women would eventually come in" (to the church) where the men are. That felt amazingly indifferent and basically willing to sacrifice an entire generation or two of both men and women, because you don't want to be bothered with the "scandal" of telling women what their role is. It seemed pretty clear that knowing what the predispositions of men are (not caring about other men really, just like women not caring about average or below average men) that they were doing the whole "just suck it up men, it's your fault, stop watching porn and get a job!" lol
Sounds like the Fr. Moses story, which is great. The problem is that it's largely irrelevant, or is such a rare thing that it's basically irrelevant.
Interesting. He mentioned in that hot-holy matrix something like this. But what does Chrysostom, know, right?
Yes. I've always yearned for a country to have what seemed natural for us in the west who didn't have that reality and culture steeped in our history.
I'd love to hear it. Thanks in advance.
And one needs money to boot. I think I'll be able to do it, just not sure what my calling is as of yet. The family part is the final issue, as you mention after.
I agree. The sticking point really is (especially if you are over 40) the age of the woman, and older women and men hating on this. That's why even in my mid 30s I had seen the writing on the wall and gave up on the west/my home country.
