Dormition

Dr. Clark Carlton (in this podcast) and Fr. Stephen (in this post )have encapsulated my thoughts over the past few days. In particular, the following from Fr. Stephen's post sums up where I am:

"Above everything we begin to move our Christian life out of the realm of abstraction and into the realm of living. We pray rather than think about prayer. We trust God rather than discussing the concept of trusting God. We act on the basis of faith rather than spending time talking about the importance of faith. We make every effort to embrace God as good and at work in all things."

So it is with both regret and resignation (though also with peace) that I announce on this, the Feast of the Dormition of the Theotokos, the dormition of this blog, as well. For the past two and a half years I, both as Peter and later as David (pictured right, to the left of the Root of Jesse and her Branch, cradled in the lowermost branch above the fellow on the floor) have discussed the things I think about, wonder about, and get angry about. Y'all have been wonderful to talk to, disagree with, and build a community of sorts with. I have been truly blessed. My "signing off" does not come, surprisingly enough, from my newly-enlarged family (though that is a time committment, to be sure), as much as it comes from this feeling that's been dogging me lately that I am doing the opposite of what Dr. Carlton and Fr. Stephen have been saying that we should do: I feel as though I've been talking about the cure that Orthodoxy offers the world, yet doing precious little to take the cure myself (or, at least, not taking it as often, well, or as much as I should). So it is that--until further notice, at least--I shan't be updating. I will be lurking around some blogs, though, and may even comment. This blog will continue to exist in its current form in case someone should need to google something that I, in a better moment, may have blurted out. Perhaps I shall pick this up again someday; God willing, I'll be wiser and more prayerful when I do so.

So, to close out, I wish all of my brothers and sisters in the Lord a happy feastday -- Sprazdnikom! -- and may the Lord Jesus Christ our God, through the prayers of His most holy mother, have mercy on us all and save us.

From tonight's vespers:

"In giving birth you preserved your virginity.
In falling asleep you did not forsake the world, O Theotokos.
You were translated to life O Mother of Life,
and by your prayers you deliver our souls from death."

"Come, O people, let us sing today to Christ our God a song of David!
'The virgins that follow her,' he said, 'shall be brought to the King.
With joy and gladness shall they be brought.'
For she, through whom we have been made Godlike,
is of the seed of David,
and gloriously and ineffably commends herself
into the hands of her own Son and Master.
Praising her as the Mother of God we cry out to her and say:
'Save us from all distress and tribulation, for we confess you to be the Theotokos!'"

Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man who hopeth in Him!

Pray for me.