www.byzcath.org Forums Faith & Christian Life Parish Life & Evangelization Advice in critical situation

UC:

Someone once remarked to me that if I were thrown into a stadium filled with lions on the one side and Christians on the other, I should take my chances with the lions!

Funny how we who have the True Faith seem to excel in that one "virtue"--tearing each other to pieces.

Go figure.

In Christ,

BOB

theophan<<Someone once remarked to me that if I were thrown into a stadium filled with lions on the one side and Christians on the other, I should take my chances with the lions!>>

Ugh!!! Sounds like the same kind of reasoning that some Orthodox Greeks expressed in the past when they said they'd prefer the Muslim turban to the Papal tiara. (The Muslims, at least, would, unlike Rome, allow the Orthodox to keep their faith intact without addition, dilution or subtraction.)

OrthodoxEast

Rich.

OrthodoxEast:

It's not reasoning. It's a throw-away line the man used when he was at the end of the day, at the end of his rope, and just plain tired of the fact that sometimes you can't please anyone let alone some of the people.

You get up the next morning, remember that the Lord is still in charge, ask for His help, and laugh before digging in for a new try (because whatever the problem is, it, too, will pass away).

In Christ,

BOB

The problem may pass away, but some people enjoy the "fun" of bashing the other guy so much that they seem unable to let things pass away.

Forum,

Again, thank you for all of your support/advice/replies/personal messages etc. I am still undecided on what to do regarding tommorow. I am haing a really hard time thinking that I will have to walk into church and be reminded of what happened and honestly, what I believe it boils down to, I do not want to see this man for a while.

Right now, I think I will go to one of the local Orthodox churches.

-uc

Two Lungs:

No question.

Dear UC,

Don't let this stupid man chase you away for good.

However see how you feel in the morning.

Put it in the Lord's hands - He will tell you what you should do.

Many prayers

Anhelyna

Oooh, UK, what a miserable situation.

I agree with the others who have said pray, and I add, we cannot know what God's design is. If you feel strongly that you cannot go back this week and go somewhere else instead, the new focus may not only give you some insight, but open you to a new experience. It's hard to sing let alone focus on God when someone is sending arrows at you.

I agree with those who think this man's behavior should be chastized somehow. Removing him from Parish Council doesn't seem enough.

In my opinion, I don't see your non-attendance as punishment of the congregation. If doing what is in one's heart and feels right before God is punishing someone else, then we do that every time we say "no" to something. And believe me, mothers do that a lot!

UK, my prayers for you, too. Please let us know what transpires.

OOps. UKie... UC!!!! Sorry, UC! Long day.

It's now Sunday evening and I've been away from the Forum for several days being in Holy Pennsylvania for work.

I hope that you did a bang up job this a.m. Had I gotten here before, perhaps I would have suggested putting a 0.38 in your belt and moving the sport jacket back when the person was in sight-line. [Note to Memo: Just joking!!]

I'd love to know if the gentleman crankster appeared at Liturgy, and if he had the audacity to once again make a scene. It doesn't matter if you're seventeen or seventy-teen, your service is wonderful and very much needed. And the community, I'm VERY sure, is sincerely grateful for your presence and voluntary service.

Blessings!

Dear UC, you can truly call yourself an experienced cantor/diak after a few occasions like this .

This likely won't be the last occurrance of this sort in your cantorial career, and I think you did very well in your restraint.

There are plenty of persons of this ilk around, who are more concerned with linguistics than what is unfolding around them with the Heavenly Liturgy. It's not the words or their meaning that is important to this kind, nor the liturgical actions underway, but the language itself. As Sharon mentioned above, we must pray for them. At least the other parishoners were there to comfort and support you.

God sends those kind to us to hone up on our charity and patience.

UC-
How did your Sunday turn out?
Sam

Sam,

I actually did not go. The main diak was there so I wasn't needed like I have been the past three or four weeks. I went to the (gorgeous) Serbian Orthodox parish up the hill.

http://www.stgeorge-soc.org/

In the words of my future governor "I'll be back, baby!"

-uc

OK. But please make sure that you talk with your priest about what happened. He's bound to get the rainbow of descriptions - it's best he hear it from you.

As someone who 'volunteers' to assist with the liturgical action through music, your very presence is an affirmation of the common efforts that are our Liturgy. Please don't let this unfortunate incident drive you from your community.

Blessings!