Orthodixie

Back in 1980, I saw Stevie Wonder in concert in Greensboro, North Carolina. It was a magical show. Stevland Morris performed for 2.5 hours — seemingly covering nothing but Number Ones. Then, for his final encore, he did “Happy Birthday” — his song honouring Martin Luther King, Jr.

He tore the roof off.

I can still see the magical mayhem. It’s one of those moments beyond time and understanding. Stevie’s campaign was omnipresent in those days.

Today, we (as a nation) spend much of our time tearing apart the reps of honourable, though sinful, men. We’ve even dissed most of our founding fathers. We are an ungrateful lot. It seems we’ve lost the ability — even the will — to pay respect. In our current society, high-teched and sex-soaked, we’ve lost sight of ourselves, our struggle, others.

Perhaps a time to love will come again.

Back in 1980, I knew — half way through Stevie’s 20-minute King tribute — that the time had come. It came, literally, right then, right there. It wasn’t a local thing, confined to the Greensboro Coliseum. It just happened to all come together at that very moment, during that show, that song. The people cried out, with happy voices, singing the praises of a fallen leader and hero, a man with a dream.

At the end of the show, black folks and white folks were ecstatic. Together. All smiles. Energized.

We’d come a long way.

We’ve a long — long — way to go.

You know it doesn’t make much sense
There ought to be a law against
Anyone who takes offense
At a day in your celebration
‘Cause we all know in our minds
That there ought to be a time
That we can set aside
To show just how much we love you
And I’m sure you will agree
It couldn’t fit more perfectly
Than to have a world party on the day you came to be

Chorus
Happy birthday to you
Happy birthday to you
Happy birthday
(Repeat)

Chorus
Happy birthday to you
Happy birthday to you
Happy birthday
(Repeat)

Bridge
Why has there never been a holiday
Where peace is celebrated
all throughout the world

Chorus
Happy birthday to you
Happy birthday to you
Happy birthday
(4x)

(Background Stevie)
Happy birthday Ooh yeah
Happy birthday,
To you

We know the key to unity of all
People
Is in the dream that you had so
Long ago
That lives in all of the hearts
Of people
That believe in unity
We’ll make the dream become
A reality
I know we will
Because our hearts tell us so

“I got a phone call from Alan’s manager, saying he was going to do a recording of gospel songs for his mom,” says RCA Label Group/Nashville chairman Joe Galante. “He was just going to make a CD copy for her. I said I’d love to hear it.”

Jackson says: “It was something I wanted to do. My mom just wore me out, asking me to do some of the songs I heard in the Baptist church growing up, and my wife, Denise, asked me (to do some for her mother). I had all this pressure from the women in my life. But actually I loved these songs and was looking for an opportunity to do it. We just did a simple record, piano, acoustic guitar, harmony vocals.”

HT THUNDERSTRUCK

Some residents were wary Saturday as they celebrated the Russian Orthodox New Year, fearful that ash that ash would disrupt air service, the main source of transportation to and from the village. Many wore dust masks to New Year’s Eve church services Friday as ash began dimming the skies.

On the way to Jerusalem he was passing along between Sama’ria and Galilee. And as he entered a village, he was met by ten lepers, who stood at a distance and lifted up their voices and said, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.” When he saw them he said to them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went they were cleansed. Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice; and he fell on his face at Jesus’ feet, giving him thanks. Now he was a Samaritan. Then said Jesus, “Were not ten cleansed? Where are the nine? Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?” And he said to him, “Rise and go your way; your faith has made you well.” — Luke 17:11-19

Thanks to all those who e-mailed me about the “Book of Knowledge.” God willing, I shall post more from this gem till someone tells me not to. As a friend once said, “You can do anything you want till the man with the badge & gun shows up and says … ‘Stop’.”

Blogging is a very unpredictable endeavor. One can work on a post for days only to receive a limp reception. Then you post something you either spout off on the spur of the moment — or, worse yet, you just cut and paste something from another (like a public FWD) — and WHAMO! You’re a Web Celeb (for a few minutes). That happened to me once with Amy Welborn and just the other day with the Houston Chronicle Online. Neither piece was authored by me. He he.

I thank God for people who lovingly keep me humble, chief of which is my wife. Before heading off to seminary, puffed up with myself, I said: “Honey, now you know, I’m going to be going to Chapel twice a day and studying theology and such and … well, I hope you don’t mind if one of us is [hand gestures] sort of up here and the other …down here.” She said, “Well, I hope it doesn’t bother you either!”

We currently have our first North Carolina visitor since we moved here in September. Houston’s a fun place to be and to show. St George Church is, without a doubt, one of the most beautiful Orthodox churches in the land. It’s nice to see that opinion confirmed in the eyes of another.

I’ve got some wonderful helpers keeping me humble at St George. The other day one of them complimented me on the Christmas article found in December’s newsletter. As I was nodding, thanking her, and beaming, she said: “But, January’s newsletter, that poem … ugh! I do not like poetry!”

Faking it, I said: “I don’t either, really.”

She said, “I can tell!”

HA!

Glory to God for all things. Some people can say things with a smile and everything’s alright. Like the Southern comedian says, “Long as you say ‘Bless your heart’ — you can say anything you want to.”

“Oh, look at her … she’s put on so much weight … Bless her heart.”

“He is so lazy, bless his heart.”

“And, Ugly!” … “Bless his heart.”

You get the picture.

This weekend St George is host to an OYO Event and the Annual IOCC Dinner. Thank God, both of these endeavors are such a blessing.

Also this weekend …

For some, Happy New Year!

For others, Happy St Sava’s Day!

And, of great importance …

Go Steelers. Go Panthers.

And Lord, about those other nine in the Gospel (and the Colts & Bears), oh my!, bless their hearts.

Pic stolen from H E R E.

The following is taken from an old book, “The Most Useful KNOWLEDGE for the Orthodox Russian-American Young People,” compiled by the Very Rev’d Peter G. Kohanik, 1932-1934.

If we wish to make life beautiful and successful we must give attention to what the world calls little things. Jesus taught that: “He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much.” It seems a small matter to give a cup of cold water in the name of Christ, but whosoever is faithful in things so small, will be ready to meet the demands of duty when the trial is great. We cannot all be philanthropists, but he who would give thousands to the cause of Christ must be willing to give such as he has, be it ever so little.

On one occasion Jesus said, “For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required.” If you can give but one day of the week to the Lord’s service — give it. If you can only give one dime — give it. If you can only say one prayer — say it.

“A word spoken in due season, how good is it!” (Prov. 15:23). One word, if the right word, and spoken at the right time, may make a life brighter, a burden lighter — may change the entire destiny of a soul. The little words of kindness, little acts of self-denial, little moments of diligence, a careful watch against little sins, a grateful use of little blessings, a diligent cultivation of little talents — these might make a person great in the sight of God.

The close observation of little things is the secret of all true success in every pursuit in life.

What is smaller than a drop of water? Think of the many drops of water that go to make the oceans from which the islands rise.

We cannot all of us do big things. We cannot all of us be big people. Only one out of every thousand, perhaps, rise very far above the average; and yet that one, when you stop to think it out, is lifted to his place by the number of little fine things that have become welded together, as drops of water are joined together to make an ocean.

Take care of the little things that come into your daily life. Do not neglect to do the little, kind things that may, at the moment, seem so unimportant. Keep from the little unkind things that may seem almost equally unimportant. It is by paying attention to the little things, those that you do and those that you leave undone, that you become a truly big person, with a big soul.

In the Christian life there are many duties which sometimes appear insignificant, but whose faithful performance brings great reward; and their neglect — untold loss.

The human body is made up of many members, great and small. Each one has its work to do, and each is needed. The foot cannot say: “I can do without the eye,” merely because the eye is a small member. The Church of Christ is likened to the human body in that it is made up of many members, of every nation, tongue and people. The same cleansing stream makes us one, but some have seemed to do more than others. For instance, Solomon built a house for the Lord, the prophets and apostles gave us the Bible, the martyrs sealed their faith with their blood. But may we, the lesser members, not underestimate the value of the faithful performance of the little duties God requires of us.