This very thing is highlighted beautiful in the new film Sacred Alaska, as a way of life of the native people in general, but more especially in regard to Matushka Olga and how it was this very attentiveness to the small details of every day life that sanctified her and made her a "Real People."
I have been thinking so much about this topic of mindfulness and how my actions and words affect myself and others. When I was a Montessori teacher we spent a lot of time on Grace and Courtesy which included walking, picking up and putting down things, and opening and closing doors. It was a very spiritual practice.
That would be terrific. Can you link to a source on how to do it, what is appropriate for each age, etc? I could use it myself and i'd start at the beginning
I have actually been practicing this sort of thing for years now. But it seems that for the most part I see this as very simple things and when I see other people not doing it I get irritable even downright angry and Incredibly judgmental of them. I get how this is self-righteous and judgmental but it has an element of torturing my anxiety issues. I've confessed this but I don't seem to be getting much better about it. I suppose like everything else it takes a lot of time and patience.
Yes, it's like any other spiritual discipline: fasting, prayer, doing venerations "correctly", using a prayer rope in public.... they all can become a "Phariseeism" and twisted to look at other people's plates and judge them instead of you benefiting from them. It's probably why the church puts The Prayer of St. Ephraim in every service during the most ascetical season of the year. Mercy and peace, brother! Keep at it!
Thank you for this beautiful disclosure, Steve. I'm edified by these words personally in my Orthodox journey, and in my present efforts of crafting a faith-integrated DBT program in my work as a professional counselor. Blessed Lent!
The Philokalia, that wonderful collection of writings by the fathers on prayer of the heart, has as its full title, The Philokalia of the Neptic Saints gathered from our Holy Theophoric Fathers, through which, by means of the philosophy of ascetic practice and contemplation, the intellect is purified, illumined, and made perfect.
"The greatest ascetical Desert Saints found greater saints than they in the cities, in kitchens, in marriages/domestic life, in menial labor jobs. Those people were neptic, paying attention to the world and to the people in their community with which they existed and responded to them as Christ would."
Praise God for his mercy.
In the words of (the late) Thich Nhat Hanh, "the kingdom of God is available to you in the here and the now... the question is whether you are available to the kingdom."
One might ask, "Does it matter how I close the door?"
This made me think of the part in Way of the Ascetics, where he talks about cutting off your curiosity. Like if you have an urge to Google something… just don’t!
Needful words for me. I'm seeing the lack of my watchfulness express itself increasingly in my children. "Why does little Timmy always lose it when something happens that he doesn't like?!" Oh, right...because that's what I do...Lord have mercy!
I am currently reading Words of the Heart by Gerondissa Makrina, the spiritual daughter of Saint Joseph the Hesychast and the spiritual sister of Elder Ephraim of Arizona. She also emphasizes the need to be watchful with everything we do and think on practically every page of the 500+ page volume. In the section I read this morning, for example, she says, "Carelessness is a sin. In every task, everything must be done carefully... All works should be done with care. It is beautiful when you say, 'Now I am going to serve Angels.'"
Wonderful. Another, and important, evidence that we need not go to Far Eastern religions, or pop dilutions of them, or little study groups of some guru - what they may have is fully present in the Church, if not fully unfolded. Sound like the thought of Sophrony [I forget his current title], who rejected those matters, not for being wrong, but for being embedded in a false metaphysic.
Thank you for this one, "the Small Things" of Life and our Humanity. Thank you too for 'translating' terms from Orthodox Faith teaching into English so we may gain a better understanding and seek to apply the teaching/concept.
This very thing is highlighted beautiful in the new film Sacred Alaska, as a way of life of the native people in general, but more especially in regard to Matushka Olga and how it was this very attentiveness to the small details of every day life that sanctified her and made her a "Real People."
We're going to see that in a couple weeks! One of our local parishes is hosting it! Thank you!
Just saw it a couple of days ago. So very, very good.
I have been thinking so much about this topic of mindfulness and how my actions and words affect myself and others. When I was a Montessori teacher we spent a lot of time on Grace and Courtesy which included walking, picking up and putting down things, and opening and closing doors. It was a very spiritual practice.
That would be terrific. Can you link to a source on how to do it, what is appropriate for each age, etc? I could use it myself and i'd start at the beginning
Here is a link to some Montessori resources on the topic.
https://www.trilliummontessori.org/grace-and-courtesy/
Beautiful and True. Thank you. In my Lenten struggle I hope to keep this very much in mind.
I have actually been practicing this sort of thing for years now. But it seems that for the most part I see this as very simple things and when I see other people not doing it I get irritable even downright angry and Incredibly judgmental of them. I get how this is self-righteous and judgmental but it has an element of torturing my anxiety issues. I've confessed this but I don't seem to be getting much better about it. I suppose like everything else it takes a lot of time and patience.
Yes, it's like any other spiritual discipline: fasting, prayer, doing venerations "correctly", using a prayer rope in public.... they all can become a "Phariseeism" and twisted to look at other people's plates and judge them instead of you benefiting from them. It's probably why the church puts The Prayer of St. Ephraim in every service during the most ascetical season of the year. Mercy and peace, brother! Keep at it!
Thank you for this beautiful disclosure, Steve. I'm edified by these words personally in my Orthodox journey, and in my present efforts of crafting a faith-integrated DBT program in my work as a professional counselor. Blessed Lent!
Thank you! When I was in my psych programs I found a lot in Orthodox theology and praxis that were helpful with cognitive therapeutic practices.
You're welcome. And theology and cognitive therapy/DBT are naturally consilient with Othodoxy, as you say. :-)
This is sublimely good, Steve. Thanks. I needed this today. And every day.
From Father Stephen:
The Philokalia, that wonderful collection of writings by the fathers on prayer of the heart, has as its full title, The Philokalia of the Neptic Saints gathered from our Holy Theophoric Fathers, through which, by means of the philosophy of ascetic practice and contemplation, the intellect is purified, illumined, and made perfect.
https://glory2godforallthings.com/2024/04/08/passionately-drunk-3/
amen-
"The greatest ascetical Desert Saints found greater saints than they in the cities, in kitchens, in marriages/domestic life, in menial labor jobs. Those people were neptic, paying attention to the world and to the people in their community with which they existed and responded to them as Christ would."
Praise God for his mercy.
In the words of (the late) Thich Nhat Hanh, "the kingdom of God is available to you in the here and the now... the question is whether you are available to the kingdom."
One might ask, "Does it matter how I close the door?"
Does anything?
If yes, then yes.
Beautiful.
This made me think of the part in Way of the Ascetics, where he talks about cutting off your curiosity. Like if you have an urge to Google something… just don’t!
Such a little thing, yet makes such a difference.
I am usually moved by your writing to reexamine what I do and how I do it. I was again. Thank you for sharing this. Peace to you, brother in Christ.
Thank you... may it be blessed!
Needful words for me. I'm seeing the lack of my watchfulness express itself increasingly in my children. "Why does little Timmy always lose it when something happens that he doesn't like?!" Oh, right...because that's what I do...Lord have mercy!
I am currently reading Words of the Heart by Gerondissa Makrina, the spiritual daughter of Saint Joseph the Hesychast and the spiritual sister of Elder Ephraim of Arizona. She also emphasizes the need to be watchful with everything we do and think on practically every page of the 500+ page volume. In the section I read this morning, for example, she says, "Carelessness is a sin. In every task, everything must be done carefully... All works should be done with care. It is beautiful when you say, 'Now I am going to serve Angels.'"
Wonderful. Another, and important, evidence that we need not go to Far Eastern religions, or pop dilutions of them, or little study groups of some guru - what they may have is fully present in the Church, if not fully unfolded. Sound like the thought of Sophrony [I forget his current title], who rejected those matters, not for being wrong, but for being embedded in a false metaphysic.
Thank you for this one, "the Small Things" of Life and our Humanity. Thank you too for 'translating' terms from Orthodox Faith teaching into English so we may gain a better understanding and seek to apply the teaching/concept.