Go with the flow..

It is what it is..

What will be will be..

What is meant to be will be..

O Lord, by the Grace of Thy Holy Spirit, vouchsafe that we may live according to Thy Holy Will. +++ amen.. +

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I am just here because God asked me to be. +

Interests

Just everything, everything in the present moment. +

Music, Movies, and Books

Abandonment to Divine Providence
The Sunflower, Conforming the Will of man to the Will of God, by St. John of Tobolsk
Many others..

Little Russian Philokalia Vol.1, St. Seraphim of Sarov
The Psalter of the Seventy (Septuagint Psalms)
The Philokalia
The Orthodox Study Bible
Monastic Wisdom: The Letters of Elder Joseph the Hesychast
Spiritual Psalter of St. Ephraim the Syrian
The Law of God, Martyr Daniel Sysoev
Wounded by Love, Saint Porphyrios of Kavsokalyvia
The Complete Ante-Nicene and Post-Nicene Collection of the Church Fathers
The Jordanville Prayer Book
The King James New Testament
The Confessions of Saint Patrick of Ireland
My Life in Christ, Saint John of Kronstadt
On the Acquisition of the Holy Spirit, Saint Seraphim of Sarov
Everyday Saints and Other Stories, Archimandrite Tikhon (Shevkonov)
With Pain and Love for Contemporary Man, Saint Paisios the Athonite
The Ladder of Divine Ascent, by St. John Climacus
The Ascetic Homilies of Saint Isaac the Syrian
The Field, by Saint Ignatius Brianchaninov
The Arena, by the same Saint

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Met God in you. +

Teach, Learn, Share

You cannot be too gentle--too kind. Shun to even appear harsh in your treatment of each other. Joy--radiant joy--streams from the face of him who gives and kindles joy in the heart of him who receives. All condemnation is from the devil. Never condemn each other. We condemn others only because we shun knowing ourselves. When we gaze at our own failings--we see such a swamp--that nothing in another can equal it. This is why we turn away--and make much of the faults of others. Instead of condemning others--strive to reach inner peace. Keep silent--refrain from judgement. This will raise you above the deadly arrows of slander--insult--and outrage; and will shield your glowing hearts against all evil.

+St. Seraphim of Sarov

"What is a merciful heart? It is a heart on fire for the whole of creation, for humanity, for the birds, for the animals, for demons, and for all that exists. By the recollection of them the eyes of a merciful person pour forth tears in abundance. By the strong and vehement mercy that grips such a person's heart, and by such great compassion, the heart is humbled and one cannot bear to hear or to see any injury or slight sorrow in any in creation. For this reason, such a person offers up tearful prayer continually even for irrational beasts, for the enemies of the truth, and for those who harm him, that they be protected and receive mercy...because of the great compassion that burns without measure in a heart that is in the likeness of God."

-St. Isaac the Syrian

Whatever a man loves, he desires at all costs to be near to continuously and uninterruptedly, and he turns himself away from everything that hinders him from being in contact and dwelling with the object of his love. It is clear therefore that he who loves God also desires always to be with him and to converse with him. This comes to pass in us through pure prayer. Accordingly, let us apply ourselves to prayer with all our power; for it enables us to become akin to God. Such a man was he who said: “O God, my God, I cry to Thee at dawn; my soul has thirsted for Thee” (Psalm 63:1, LXX). For the man who cries to God at dawn has withdrawn his intellect from every vice and clearly is wounded by divine love.

St. Theodoros the Great Ascetic
II, A Century of Spiritual Texts, sec. 94”

"Take delight in all things that surround us. All things teach us and lead us to God. All things around us are droplets of the love of God -- both things animate and inanimate, the plants and the animals, the birds and the mountains, the sea and the sunset and the starry sky. They are little loves through which we attain to the great Love that is Christ."

+St. Porphyrios of Kavsokalyvia

+Saint Porphyrios in a Brothel+
In the old days, during the feast of the Theophany, we used to sanctify homes. One year I also went to sanctify. I would knock on the doors of the apartments, they would open for me, and I walked in singing “In Jordan, You were baptized O Lord…”
As I went along the road called Maizonos, I saw an iron door. I opened it, walked into the courtyard which was full of tangerine, orange and lemon trees, and proceeded to the stairs. It was an outdoor staircase that went up, and down was the basement. I climbed the stairs, knocked on the door, and a lady appeared. Since she opened I began my common practice singing, “In Jordan, You were baptized O Lord…” She stopped me abruptly. Meanwhile, girls began to emerge from their rooms after hearing me from the left and right of the hallway. “I see that I fell into a brothel,” I said to myself. The woman walked in front of me to stop.
“Leave,” she told me. “It is not right for them to kiss the Cross. I will kiss the Cross and then you should leave, please.”
I took seriously her disapproving attitude and said: “I cannot leave! I am a priest, I cannot go! I came here to sanctify.”
“Yes, but it is not right for them to kiss the Cross.”
“But we don’t know if it is right for them or you to kiss the Cross. Because if God asks me for whom it is more right to kiss the Cross, the girls or you, I probably would say: ‘It is right for the girls to kiss and not you. Their souls are much better than yours.’”
With that she became a bit red in the face, so I said: “Leave the girls to come kiss the Cross.” I signalled for them to come forward. I began to chant more melodically than before: “In Jordan, You were baptized O Lord…” because I had such joy within me, that God had ordained things so that I may also come to these souls.
They all kissed the Cross. They were all made-up, with colorful skirts, etc. I told them: “My children, many years! God loves us all. He is very good and ‘allows the rain to fall on the righteous and the unrighteous’ (Matt. 5:45). He is the Father of everyone and God cares for everyone. Let us make sure to come to know Him and for us to also love Him and to become good. May you love Him, and then you will see how happy you will be.”
They looked at me, wondering. Something took a hold of their tired souls.
Lastly I told them: “I rejoice that God has made me worthy to come here today to sanctify you. Many years!”
“Many years!” they also said, and I left.
–from “Wounded by Love” by Saint Porphyrios

The Daily Prayer
of Hieroschemamonk

Parthenios

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, do not permit vanity, self-love, sensuality, carelessness, anger to rule over me and steal me from Thy love, O my Lord and Creator, all my hope! Do not leave me without a portion of the blessed eternity. Grant also that I may follow Thy Holy example.. that I may submit to the authorities placed over me. Grant me the clean soul, the simplicity of heart; which makes us worthy of Thy love. < To Thee, my God, I lift up my soul and heart; do not allow Thy creation to perish, but free me from the single and greatest enemy ... sin. Grant, Lord, that I may endure anxiety and sorrows of the soul with the same patience as the joy with which I receive satisfaction of heart. If Thou desirest, Lord, Thou canst cleanse me and sanctify me. Here I commit myself to Thy mercy... begging Thee to destroy within me all that is offensive to Thee, and to unite me to the assembly of Thy chosen. < Lord, take from me: idleness of spirit, which destroys time; vanity of thoughts, which hinders Thy presence and distracts my attention to prayer. If, while in prayer, I turn away from Thee in my thoughts, help me; so that this distraction may not be willful, and that - averting my mind - I may not avert my heart from Thee. I confess to Thee, my Lord God, all the sins of my wickedness committed before Thee, now and in the past. Forgive me for them, for the sake of Thy Holy Name, and save my soul, which thou has redeemed with Thy precious Blood. I entrust myself to Thy mercy. I submit to Thy will. Do with me according to Thy mercy and not according to my evil and wickedness. Teach me Lord, to dispose my deeds so that they will serve in glorifying Thy Holy Name. < Take pity, O Lord, on all Christians. Hear the desires of all who cry out to Thee, and deliver them from evil. Save Thy servants [ insert names ] . Send them comfort, consolation in sorrows, and Thy holy mercy. Lord, I especially pray for those who have in anyway insulted, abused and grieved me. Do not punish them for the sake of me, a sinner; but pour Thy mercy upon them. Lord, I pray to thee especially for all those whom I, a sinner, insulted or tempted in word, deed, thought, knowingly and unknowingly. Lord God, forgive us our sins and mutual offenses. Dispel from our hearts, O Lord, all indignation, suspicion, anger, remembrance of evil, quarrels, and all that might hinder and lessen brotherly love. < Be merciful Lord, to those who have entrusted me, an unworthy sinner, to pray for them. Be merciful Lord, to all who ask Thy help. Lord, make this day a day of Thy mercy; give to each according to their petition. Be the Shepherd of the lost, the Guide of Light of unbelievers, the Teacher of the unwise, the Father of orphans, the Helper of the oppressed, the Healer of the sick, the Comforter of the dying, and lead us all to the desired end... to Thee, our refuge and blessed repose.

Amen.

"Previously, I wanted everything to go my way, but seeing that nothing was done as I wanted, I began to wish that everything be done as it is done; so it was that everything started to be done as I wanted."

Elder Joseph of Optina

“Let us love Christ and let our only hope and care be for Him. Let us love Christ for His sake only. Never for our sake. Let Him put us wherever He likes. Let Him give us whatever He wishes. Don't let's love Him for His gifts. It's egotistical for us to say: 'Christ will place me in a fine mansion which He prepared, just as the gospel says: 'In my Father's house there's are many mansions... so that where I amount may be also.' What we should say rather is: 'My Christ, whatever Your love dictates; It is sufficient for me to live within Your love.'
As for myself, poor soul... what can I say... I'm very weak. I haven't managed to love Christ so very fervently and for my soul to long for Him. I feel that I have a very long way to go. I haven't arrived at where I want to be; I don't experience this love. But I'm not discouraged. I trust in the love of God. I say to Christ: 'I know I'm not worthy. Send me wherever Your love wishes. That's what I desire, that's what I want. During my life I always worshipped You.'
When I was seriously ill and on the point of leaving this life. I didn't want to think about my sins. I wanted to think about the love of my Lord, my Christ, and about eternal life. I wanted to think about His goodness, His love. And now that my life is nearing it's end, I don't feel anxiety or apprehension, but I think that when “I appear at the Second Coming and Christ says to me: 'Friend, how did you get in here without a wedding garment?' I will bow my head and I will say to Him: 'Whatever you want, my Lord, whatever your love desires. I know I am not worthy. Send me wherever your love wishes. I am for hell. And place me in hell, as long as I am with You. There is one thing I want, one thing I desire, one thing I ask for, and that is to be with You, whatever and however you wish.' “
- St Porphyrios

"This was from Me" is a famous letter written by Saint Seraphim of Viritsa that he sent to his spiritual child, a bishop who was in a Soviet prison at that time; this homily "This was from me" is written as a consolation and counsel to the bishop to let him know that God the Creator addresses to the soul of man.
"Have you ever thought that everything that concerns you, concerns Me, also? You are precious in my eyes and I love you; for this reason, it is a special joy for Me to train you. When temptations and the opponent [the Evil One] come upon you like a river, I want you to know that This was from Me.
I want you to know that your weakness has need of My strength, and your safety lies in allowing Me to protect you. I want you to know that when you are in difficult conditions, among people who do not understand you, and cast you away, This was from Me.
I am your God, the circumstances of your life are in My hands; you did not end up in your position by chance; this is precisely the position I have appointed for you. Weren't you asking Me to teach you humility? And there - I placed you precisely in the "school" where they teach this lesson. Your environment, and those who are around you, are performing My will. Do you have financial difficulties and can just barely survive? Know that This was from Me.
I want you to know that I dispose of your money, so take refuge in Me and depend upon Me. I want you to know that My storehouses are inexhaustible, and I am faithful in My promises. Let it never happen that they tell you in your need, "Do not believe in your Lord and God." Have you ever spent the night in suffering? Are you separated from your relatives, from those you love? I allowed this that you would turn to Me, and in Me find consolation and comfort. Did your friend or someone to whom you opened your heart, deceive you? This was from Me.
I allowed this frustration to touch you so that you would learn that your best friend is the Lord. I want you to bring everything to Me and tell Me everything. Did someone slander you? Leave it to Me; be attached to Me so that you can hide from the "contradiction of the nations." I will make your righteousness shine like light and your life like midday noon. Your plans were destroyed? Your soul yielded and you are exhausted? This was from Me.
You made plans and have your own goals; you brought them to Me to bless them. But I want you to leave it all to Me, to direct and guide the circumstances of your life by My hand, because you are the orphan, not the protagonist. Unexpected failures found you and despair overcame your heart, but know That this was from Me.
With tiredness and anxiety I am testing how strong your faith is in My promises and your boldness in prayer for your relatives. Why is it not you who entrusted their cares to My providential love? You must leave them to the protection of My All Pure Mother. Serious illness found you, which may be healed or may be incurable, and has nailed you to your bed. This was from Me.
Because I want you to know Me more deeply, through physical ailment, do not murmur against this trial I have sent you. And do not try to understand My plans for the salvation of people's souls, but unmurmuringly and humbly bow your head before My goodness. You were dreaming about doing something special for Me and, instead of doing it, you fell into a bed of pain. This was from Me.
Because then you were sunk in your own works and plans and I wouldn't have been able to draw your thoughts to Me. But I want to teach you the most deep thoughts and My lessons, so that you may serve Me. I want to teach you that you are nothing without Me. Some of my best children are those who, cut off from an active life, learn to use the weapon of ceaseless prayer. You were called unexpectedly to undertake a difficult and responsible position, supported by Me. I have given you these difficulties and as the Lord God I will bless all your works, in all your paths. In everything I, your Lord, will be your guide and teacher. Remember always that every difficulty you come across, every offensive word, every slander and criticism, every obstacle to your works, which could cause frustration and disappointment, This is from Me.
Know and remember always, no matter where you are, That whatsoever hurts will be dulled as soon as you learn In all things, to look at Me. Everything has been sent to you by Me, for the perfection of your soul. All these things were from Me."
- Excerpts from the life and counsels of St. Seraphim of Viritsa

What I Can Share with Hosts

Coffee
Food
Music
A shower
A washer and dryer
Wifi
A porch to chill on
An backyard to spend time in
Not really material things but I can add to your spiritual enlightenment. +

IĆ XĆ NIKA