Categories: thanks-be-to-god, orthodox-life, friends, great-lent
Date: 07 March 2012 05:03:34
I will admit the finding a job exercise is rather draining; and as many jobs go through recruitment agencies I am finding that there are some good ones, and some not so good ones. No doubt times have moved on, but it is rather dispiriting when promised call-backs don't eventuate and when the sending of 20 job requests gets only 3 replies in the negative; for which I thanked those people for taking the time to let me know. But, all in good time, and I need to cultivate the virtue of patience which I have never been very good at.
There are many blessings in my life however.
I am more easily able to attend more of the weekday Lenten services: Great Compline on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday; Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts (Communion with the bread and wine kept from Sunday's Divine Liturgy) on Wednesday; and the Akathist to the Theotokos (the Virgin Mary, the God-bearer) on Friday. I have time to read spiritual works, the three I am reading are to the right of this post: and I am reading parts of my patron saint's famous (Orthodox-wise) work, The Ladder of Divine Ascent. I am not sure how much I am spiritually digesting (reminds me of a wonderful saying from the Desert Fathers which I will try and track down), but as time allows I will share some thoughts on the services and the books.
I am blessed with wonderful friends, and wonderful people in my life. I went back to my old work yesterday to see a friend who is leaving to greener pastures, and had lunch with him and another friend. They are two wonderful people, and great friends, and I am truly blessed to know them. That workplace was a blessing in many ways. I am someone who is cautious in the use of the word 'friend', but I can say I made 5 good friends there, and am still in touch with them. It was also great to catch up with my former colleagues and hear their news. And they seemed happy to see me which is always a nice self-esteem boost!
And after church last night a parishioner shared with me, deeply, her own anxiety issues. She went through far more than I could even imagine, but her sharing, her words of comfort that there is an end, and her encouragement to keep going and make use of the time I have in abundance currently for a great effort during Great Lent, were blessings indeed.
For all this, and much more: thanks be to God.