It’s that time again.
Though this blog has been honored in the past, I mention the awards not for my sake or your vote — Lord knows, other than podcast updates, I’ve not posted much lately …
Rather, there are many worthy “new media” types working the virtual vineyard these days.
Why not nominate your favorites?
Go HERE.
The ways people say Goodbye are various and sundry; some ways of saying Goodbye can seem just plain odd. There are times when – as Christians, let’s face it – Goodbye doesn’t really mean Goodbye.
When my wife and I moved to Wisconsin, back in 1989, we were shocked when, after serving our guests a fabulous dinner and having had great conversation, the man, a life-long Wisconsinite said: “Welp, gotta go!” And within moments, he and his wife were out the door and headed home!
Weird.
They seemed perfectly happy, smiling, as they left. But left they did!
Why did I find this peculiar?
Well, where I come from, at least within my native Country Culture, saying Goodbye is easy …
Leaving is danged near impossible.
For instance:
When I was a kid, my folks used to play a card game called Rook with some other church couples. This was, apparently, allowed in the Baptist Church – Rook that is. (Poker and betting games were, of course, verboten.)
These evening affairs, usually on Friday nights, included dinner, and then hours and hours – seemingly years – of endless playtime for us kids.
When the event was apparently ended, parents would yell the names of their kids signaling it was time to go home. Struggling to be obedient, we came.
We suspected, however, that our parents were not really ready to part company — for, they did not disperse — but, rather talked adult conversation, right in front of us kids, about us! As if we were not there! How we’d grown, how we’d changed, how pretty, shy, or handsome we were. This, it seemed, went on for 38 years.
We eventually wiggled our way out of that uncomfortable nonsense and headed outside for more play.
I know what you’re thinking, “I thought they were leaving?”
As in: Goodbye.
Well, it’s not always so easy: Goodbye .
Here’s how a typical Goodbye went down – at least, back when I was a kid – in the South:
The Orthodixie Podcast on Ancient Faith Radio.
Icon Source
Rook Image Source
If you’re local, available, willing and/or able — hope to see you!
On Saturday, October 16th, I’ll be speaking at the 13th Annual Orthodox Christian Pilgrimage in Honor of Our Lady of Walsingham — in Mesquite, Texas.
BTW – In 1993, the Texas Legislature named Mesquite the “Rodeo Capital of Texas.”
His Grace, Bishop BASIL will lead the pilgrimage.
I’ll be speaking on Mary in the Life of Christ, in the Life of the Church, and in the Life of the Believer.
Join us!
Our Lady of Walsingham Pilgrimage 2010
Click here for pics of past pilgrimages, including one with Bishop BASIL and a future Metropolitan.
The following Saturday, October 23rd, I will be speaking in Chicago at Christ the Savior Church — Join us!
An Afternoon of Conversation with Fr Joseph Huneycutt
My talk — our conversation — will touch on:
The relevance of the Orthodox Church in society today. Why the Orthodox Church as opposed to Protestant/Evangelical/Catholic churches, which appear to be more flexible and inclusive. What makes the traditions of the Church so important today? What is wrong with shorter services, less emphasis on confession and communion, less time in church? How can the Orthodox Church even survive in the United States?
On Sunday evening, November 21st, you are welcomed to join in a worthy endeavor to be held in California — 
St John’s Gala —
which hopes to raise money for the wonderful St John’s Academy.
Topic: Funny Moments Can Be Teachable Things
I do hope you will join us for —
First off, let me just say: I am not a Redneck. At least, I don’t think so (not that there’s anything wrong with that, of course!).
But the title of this podcast comes from a quip I made a few years back upon entering the St George – Houston parish hall after Liturgy and a woman came up to me and said, “So, what’s your next book gonna be about?”
I looked around the parish hall and said, “I’m thinking of writing a book titled Redneck in Ramallah”.
She said, “Well, not all of us are from Ramallah.”
I didn’t say it, but she might have guessed it from my blank stare; I thought: “Oh my, does she think I’m a redneck?!”
Which got me thinking …
What, exactly, is a redneck?
From AFR: As Fr Joseph leaves St George Church and heads west to St Joseph’s, he muses on past “Sons of St George” and wonders if there really ever was a “Redneck in Ramallah” …
The Orthodixie Podcast on Ancient Faith Radio.
Image Source
A note from Fr John Whiteford …
“If you’ve wondered why I have not posted much lately, it is because I have been finishing up work on the 2011 St. Innocent Liturgical Calendar. This calendar is based on the Jordanville Calendar, though it will of course be in English.
Now that I’m done, I can relax for a week or so before starting on the 2012 calendar.”
Visit St Innocent Press – HERE.
Orthodixie 