Orthodixie

South Padre Island, Texas — January 1, 2008

It’s not fair to begin a series of photo entries from the Winter Service Retreat with pics of the beach, for multiple reasons: 1) it was outrageously windy and cool for south Texas; 2) it was the only real “goof off” day of the week; 3) even under the conditions it probably looks down right balmy to some of you; 4) the retreat began several days earlier with services, presentations, and preparations for our outreach projects (photos to come).

Matushka Elizabeth Perdomo directs our minds to the rules. As full blown swimming and sun bathing was out, new forms of recreation had to be devised …

Like camel riding.

Er, at least camel RIDER!

First things first, I don’t care how cold it is:

Let’s eat!

With its wind blown redness, the warning flag is the hottest thing on the beach!

In other words, swim at your own risk.

Swim?

SWIM?!

Bwa-ha-ha-ha-haaaaa! Ha!

Even this Portuguese Man of War (there were dozens of them lining the shore) had to head toward warmer climes.

After about four hours of sand and suds … it was time to skip the suds.

… and head to the top of the sand.

The dunes at South Padre Island

As with the icon of the Ladder of Divine Ascent …

… there’s a place, really sans suds, where you don’t want to end up!

Since the spring of last year, when a podcast and a book gobbled up spare time, postings on this blog have become sporadic. I’ve contemplated going the way of all blogs with the inevitable P-P-Posting; which, though not a bad idea — it’s one whose time has not (quite yet) come.

For instance, if it weren’t for the blog I’d not be able to tell you about the group of exceptional folks pictured here. This pic was taken by Matushka Elizabeth Perdomo following the closing Liturgy, all in Spanish, at the Winter Service Retreat last week at St George Church in Pharr, Texas.

Pretty much everyone in this picture is smarter than me. In other words, the majority of them are homeschooled. For more info on homeschoolers, go HERE.

God willing, time allowing, I’ll post more pics from the retreat soon.

But, in the meantime, seriously … click on that homeschooler link.

😉

The thing about a new leaf is … you can just KEEP turning it over!

Our job, with God’s help, is to REDEEM the time.

Time, in and of itself (outside of Paradise), is neither good nor bad.

It just is.

Yet, with a sacramental understanding, even “bad times” can be redeemed — to God’s glory.

Stick to the things necessary for your salvation, moment by moment.

And, please, while you’re at it: Pray for me.

God bless!

— Oh! And to all the Orthodox “Old Timers” …

Christ is Born!

It’s that time of year again …

Now that the Nativity Fast and Christmas has come and gone,it’s almost that time of year …

A time of year that can be summed up in one word from last year:

Sanjaya!

What? You were expecting something else? Nope. That’s right, it’s time for the popular TV show, American Idol.

I know … Many of you don’t watch television, have cable or satellite. Me neither. But I do have rabbit ears and a teenager. Ladies and gentlemen, I confess,I have seen American Idol.

(BTW, did you know that Kellie Pickler is from my hometown? — even went to my high school AND my boyhood church? But … enough about me … I mean, Kellie can’t ride on my coat tails forever!)

Oh, I’m just kidding … it’s not about Sanjaya.

After the Feast of Theophany, it’s House Blessing time!

But here’s where my tale gets a little muddled. You see, I was on my way to my first house blessing … had just gotten out of the SUV … opened up the hatch and was gathering my stuff … Prayer Book … Holy Water … Book … Sprinkler … Censer … Candle … Icon … and then …

WHAM!

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