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Martin Shaw's avatar

These comments are truly touching to me, there's some love in the room and it's wonderful. As I wrote below, I've been in a church this morning with Russians and Ukrainians kissing, hugging, weeping, praying and feasting together. It was a love riot.

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Joseph McMillan's avatar

Christ is risen!

A short story:

My girlfriend and I travelled to a monastery. It was terrifying for her. Arriving, I opened her door and she sat still. She said, “I am not worthy” and would not move. I told her, “me too” as encouragement and ice melted from her limbs. Still, though, clinging to her heart, cold fear entered her. Approaching the doors of the chapel, we heard the low chanting of monks and saw the darkness of a filled chapel preparing to share in the light of Christ. Again, by God, she would not enter the chapel. We sat with some friends outside.

Thoughts passed and I tried to think of ways to encourage her. No fruit for the farmer who tries to sow seed; only by the farmer who sows will fruit come aplenty. I asked, “do you know the Jesus prayer?”, and she said yes. In silence we sat for God only knows how many minutes.

Finally, from the opening of the chapel doors came a light and a priest. Followed by all of the chapel, the priest led a procession of light wielding believers and we, yes we, joined in their ranks.

The service continued and we left early; called by a long drive home and advice from a brother. Now here I sit, glory be to God, having eaten a blessed egg with a pint of Guinness. Paradise before our eyes brother. We must be dreaming for to be awake would be far to terrifying.

May God bless you and all of us!

Christ is risen!

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