Thinking Long-Term

Christos Anesti!

We find ourselves living in somewhat chaotic times hoping to return to normal. Between the pandemic, the inflating cost of gas, food, and all sorts of commodities, homes, and bills, many people I talk to (and myself included from time to time), are struggling to stay afloat, financially, emotionally, mentally, physically, and spiritually. This type of stress, makes it quite difficult for someone to hold on to healthy perspective, and adds additional strain on families as well as individuals! So let’s take seriously the work that needs to be done to reorient us. We as Christians deal with the spiritual realm, not just the material; we deal with and begin with our faith.

The best place to begin speaking about the faith is at the end. We need to know what we’re working toward so we can talk about how to accomplish our goals. The Christian Orthodox faith is a long-term commitment and a long term process and way of life and being. One’s commitment to their faith, and to God are acted out in his or her life, in their interactions and relationship with their neighbors, and family, and of course with Christ their God.

God’s desire for us is to come to know Him, to raise children who know Him, for us all to live in His love, and to walk in His ways. God wants us all to know who He is, and He wants us to grow up near Him, to become saints, to become holy. That is success for us, as Orthodox Christians, success is us and our children becoming saints and bringing our friends and neighbors and enemies along for the journey. His desire for us, and all of His, and our children is for us to live righteous lives in this world as we prepare to live eternally with Him. He desires this because this will make us and our children truly happy, truly successful. He tells us if we seek Him first, everything else will be taken care of.

Citizens of heaven are what we aim to and profess to be. Citizens of heaven are those who live in the world ac- cording to God’s ways, God’s values, and God’s virtues. We learn about the values and virtues of the

Kingdom of God from the Bible, from Church Tradition, from the writings of the Fathers and Mothers of the Church, and from the lives of the saints.

With love and respect in the Risen Lord,

+ Rev Yanni Michaelidis