A Glimpse of Another Path

For a time I despaired of my husband ever returning to the Catholic Church with me. A friend invited us to the Eastern Orthodox Church that she attended. My sons and I began to go there.

I was undone. I’ve not been given the appropriate words to explain my experience at Divine Liturgy in the Orthodox Church. My sons were unusually well behaved when we went. And just for the record the Orthodox service is not for those who easily weary. It is not short and sweet. It is beautiful, awesome and looooong. And my children loved it.

We were welcomed to that church by the friendliest bunch of people I had ever been around. The joy of the LORD was apparent there. I thought this might be the home I was looking for. It had the Eucharist that I longed for. My mother couldn’t screech because it wasn’t Catholic, my husband would surely be open to at least investigating it…wait…that was not a good assumption.

Sadly it was a long way from home. Now many Orthodox that I am familiar with do have to travel to attend Divine Liturgy. There are not churches on every corner—there are not Orthodox communities in every town. It was a long way to go. My husband’s job was hanging in the balance and we were stressed out as a family. When I broached the subject with my husband, he firmly but gently told me he was opposed to my going and taking the boys with me. He was also not happy with the idea of me going solo. There was one other very personal reason he was opposed—and that I actually agreed with. (We will just not talk about it though. It would serve no bearing in someone else’s faith journey.)

But things happen for a reason…

~ by throughadarkglass on August 10, 2007.