Learning to Swim I learned to swim at an early age. I remember, before I started taking official lessons, my father taught me the basics of swimming. He would hold me on my back and teach me to float. In
Read moreDiving Into Life
Living It Up
What does it mean to be a Christian? In today’s world, with so many denominations, and with so many people becoming “nones,” it’s a good question to ask. Perhaps, the Christian Life is Flashy? However, by asking that question, I
Read moreSo Many Services
“Fr. Dustin, aren’t all those extra services (feast days, Vespers, Matins) just for monks and retired people?” Here’s my brief response.
Read moreForgetting the Liturgy
One time, while I was serving Liturgy, I turned around to say a prayer, but I couldn’t remember what to say for the life of me! How could this happen?
Read moreDance, Dance Wherever You May Be
I think our seasons are mixed up. At first, I didn’t think spring would ever arrive. Then, when it finally did stop snowing, it got so hot that I wondered, What happened to spring? Now, with all the rain, I
Read morePulling Back the Curtain on Pentecost
At the Orthodox celebration of Pentecost, the Gospel reading comes from John 7, which is a story about Jesus celebrating the Feast of Sukkot? But, if it’s Pentecost, why would the Church have us read about Sukkot? How does that
Read moreShrek and the Myrrhbearing Women
As I thought about the theme of one of the Easter Sundays, the Myrrhbearing Women, I wondered: what’s the deeper symbolic meaning that the first witnesses of the resurrection were female? Then, the answer came to me through the movie Shrek.
Read moreThe Superhero vs. The Crucified
Today is Thomas Sunday, the day we remember how Thomas wanted to put his finger in the marks made in Jesus’ hands by the nails and his side by the spear. He wanted to confirm that this man, the crucified
Read moreShouting Hosanna!
Listening closely to the hymns of Palm Sunday, there’s one theme – among many – that reappears. It can be found the 2nd Apolytikion: “We were buried with you through baptism…and thus by your resurrection, we have been granted immortal
Read moreThe Murderous Easter Bunny!
On Facebook today, there was some Medieval click bait. Trapped by my own curiosity, I click on the link to find photos of Medieval manuscripts. In these photos, the “Easter Bunny” was murdering people. “Wow!” I thought to myself. Finally,
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