Categories: uncategorized
Date: 25 October 2005 11:08:33
God willing, I shall chrismated and received into the Orthodox church before Christmas.
In a sense I have been ready for a while. Yet, in another sense, I've been hesitant. Mostly because I felt I needed to "know everything". I'm unsure as to why I thought like this, as I generally don't think about that -- though I like to read a lot and find out a lot! I was reading a comment a former poster on Ship-of-Fools made on Michael's blog: 'I bet many of the members of the Babushka brigade never "studied" in the sense we converts have studied, and yet...the Church is their life.', and it hit me. Indeed it is! One can study all they want, but if you aren't living the life, walking the walk and talking the talk as one may say, how committed are you? I told my priest about this comment: he laughed and heartily agreed.
One of the many things I've appreciated about my priest is that he has never pushed me: he, and most of the parish, have been asking me regularly and desired me to become chrismated asap, but they've never pushed. They, and my priest especially, has respected my oddities and wanting to take it slow -- very slow at times. I have greatly longed to be received into the Orthodox church, but I did, and do, have several issues to work through. Nothing big -- given my anal personality I demand order and knowledge in everything: God help me. By His grace I know all I need to know will be made clear.
Your prayers would be greatly appreciated as I approach the date of my chrismation.