Visiting the elderly....

Over the holidays, one of my greatest joys is visiting the shut-ins, elderly and the infirm.......I never hesitate to think of my parents and grandparents.....This generation of people who toiled to give us a better life....I look at those wrinkled hands that labored, those beautiful hearts that have enveloped us in so much love and milky eyes that bespeak of gratitude for the "presence" and I well up inside. They love to tell their stories and I love to listen, they enrich my life and take me on journeys that are so wondrous....In fact I receive more from my visit to the "sittos and jiddos" than I give...even when tired by trudging through the snow...to make the visit. Tomorrow I will see a young doctor with MS and a woman close to 100...still making kibbee......contrasts that shake us up.....BUT, it is gratifying to go beyond oneself........

A cross to bear...

I see people suffering every day from many and various afflictions...It seems to me each one of us has an opportunity to touch another person with the grace of our presence by acts of kindness...It is not a matter of words but of a loving presence.... to be a wounded healer. Each of us has a "cross" to bear, but it can be lighter when we offer ourselves for others...Peace.

The loss of a great man.

We have lost a great spiritual leader in the falling asleep in the Lord, ALEXSY, Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia.

He brought the Church out of the dark ages of tragic oppressive communism into the light of freedom in the new Russia...reopening and dedicating new churches everywhere so the faithful could breath the fresh air of the fragrance of Orthodoxy......

Also our dear friend Bishop Niphon lost a father and a champion....the great significance of his death, essentially during his tenure in office was the resurgence of Orthodoxy which is the largest community of believers in the world. He helped to overcome seventy years when the church was suppressed but Christianity was essentially in their souls and was underground...but look what happened, Christianity rebounded when a great leader took the helm and led them to green pastures......SEE what One Person can do......he is an example of heroic efforts....

Joy is born on sorrow....

My thoughts.....

Joy is born on sorrow, our suffering can give birth to a whole new person. Giving to others, from the depth of our experience allows us to transcend our wounds. One can begin the healing process through reaching out to others...even in our "brokenness"....

Our friends are treasures to be nourished.....their love sustains us through out the years......A true friend will always be faithful no matter what are the circumstances.

I am tired now..good night

The Man Behind the Collar...