Inspirations...Moon Haiku

In 2003, I was given the assignment to teach sixth grade. This was the year that I first taught a unit on the moon. One of the lessons was to observe its different phases.  I gave the students the task of observing  the moon- from day 1 through day 28.

Since then, the moon has has become my world of wonder. It never ceases to impress me.
Today, several years since then, the fascination and the awe that the moon evoke are still strong and captivating. 

Here are some of the pictures of the moon, accompanied by haiku. (HAIKU: a Japanese non-rhyming poem) It consists of three lines, with 5-7-5 syllables.

The Night Sky

(October 16, 2013)
Stillness in the night,
Darkness...except for the Glow
Coming from above.

In You, O Lord, I Put My Trust

 I will follow You
Wherever You lead me, Lord
For You are my God.

Between 1 and 2 o' clock is a dull- looking speck. That is Uranus.

(October 17, 2013)

The Light Shines Upon Us

 Let us praise the Light,
For He has given us life,
Love, everlasting.

(October 17, 2013)

A Presbytera's Prayer

                    “Presbytera.”

I turned around to see that it was P.B., a long time parishioner at the Greek Orthodox Church where my husband is serving as a parish priest.

In the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese, where priests are allowed to be married, Presbytera is the title that is given to the presbyters’ wives. To parishioners, it is a sign of respect. It also shows trust and acceptance. It took me a while before I got used to people calling me this, instead of my real name.

I acknowledged P.B.’s greeting by turning around and giving her a peck on each cheek. It was then, that I saw the sad expression on her eyes. I asked her how she was and told her that I was sincerely glad to see her again. P.B. is a 75-year old Greek lady who was very involved in the church. She was always someone who could be relied on to help in the liturgical and social events. She is referred to as one of the founding members.

P. B. had tears in her eyes and did not know where to begin telling me about her concerns.
She assured me that although she had her aches and pains, she was physically “alright.” I asked other probing questions, in the hope that she would open up and tell me what was wrong. Suspiciously, she looked around to see if there were people who could hear our conversation. Seeing no one, she whispered that she was very concerned about her grandson who got himself into some problems. Coming from an ethnic background, P.B. 
is very much involved with her children and grandchildren’ s lives. She went on to tell me how he is trying to get his life back in order.  Still she felt so down and helpless.

            “Good morning, Presbytera,” another parishioner called.

Hurriedly, P.B. told me to move on, 

            “Let’s talk again later.”

I asked P.B. to give me the names of her family members, especially her grandson’s. I told her that I would include them in our prayers. 

Three months later, after church service, she came to me with a big smile. She gave me a tight hug and a peck on each cheek.

           

            “Thank you, Presbytera. Our prayers were answered!

 I did not do much, I told her. I simply listened to her. I gave her my time and assured her that I was going to pray for them.

Now I clearly understand my role as a Presbytera. P.B. and I... we felt that we connected. 

My Notes on Our Thoughts Determine Our Lives: the Life and Teachings of the Elder Thaddeusof Vitovnica

“Our life depends on the kind of thoughts we nurture. If our thoughts are peaceful, calm, meek, and kind, then that is what our life is like. If our attention is turned to the circumstances in which we live, we are drawn into a whirlpool of thoughts and can have neither peace nor tranquility.”
Smiljanic, Ana (2011-12-19). Our Thoughts Determine Our Lives: the Life and Teachings of Elder Thaddeus of Vitovnica (Kindle Locations 57-59). St. Herman of Alaska Brotherhood. Kindle Edition.

Oftentimes, when trials come our way, we allow ourselves to be sucked into the negativity of the situation. The right thing to do is to be vigilant in our prayers. To allow God to be with us through the whole ordeal shows how much we trust Him to help us, after all, He is Greater than us.


Elder Thaddeus saw that the only cure for man’s illness was a return to a life-centered on Christ the God-man, the only One Who can fulfill all of mankind’s needs.
Smiljanic, Ana (2011-12-19). Our Thoughts Determine Our Lives: the Life and Teachings of Elder Thaddeus of Vitovnica (Kindle Locations 61-62). St. Herman of Alaska Brotherhood. Kindle Edition.

In God we trust. 
He is all knowing before we even understand anything.


“If you wish to preserve this gift of Grace, you must pray to God all the time in order to block oppressive and dark thoughts from your mind and thus preserve the peace and joy which you feel when you are illumined by Grace.”
Smiljanic, Ana (2011-12-19). Our Thoughts Determine Our Lives: the Life and Teachings of Elder Thaddeus of Vitovnica (Kindle Locations 238-240). St. Herman of Alaska Brotherhood. Kindle Edition.

Prayer has a unique way of calming our thoughts, of making us realize that God is the source of peace. 


The fear of God is not the animal-like fear of this world. Our fear is like that, and we must strive to conquer this. Such fear is from hades. Our life is filled with fear. We fear what tomorrow will bring, what the future has in store for us.... That is an animal-like fear. The fear of God is when you love Him, when you truly love Him with all your heart and you strive never to offend or sadden Him—not only with your deeds, actions, and words, but also with your thoughts. You try to please Him in everything you do or say. That is the fear of God—the fear of doing anything that might sadden or offend our Parent.
Smiljanic, Ana (2011-12-19). Our Thoughts Determine Our Lives: the Life and Teachings of Elder Thaddeus of Vitovnica (Kindle Locations 1056-1060). St. Herman of Alaska Brotherhood. Kindle Edition.

When I first heard the words, "with the fear of God, with Faith and with love, draw near," I was so confused. How can one have the courage to come close to God, if He is feared?
It is only when I read this part of the book that I realized the difference between animal-like fear and having the fear to displease the Father of our actions. This kind of fear involves love... for God.

The Jesus Prayer

 The Jesus Prayer and the Prayer Rope

http://www.sprint.net.au/~corners/Aug00/JesusPrayer.htm

IN THE FIRST Epistle to the Thessalonians the Apostle Paul says: "Pray without ceasing." How then is one to pray unceasingly? By often repeating the Jesus Prayer: "O Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy upon me a sinner." By becoming accustomed to this appeal, great consolation and the need to continually make this petition will be felt within, and it will be carried on, as if of itself, within one.

Although in the beginning, the enemy of the human race offers hindrances to this, by causing great weariness, indolence, boredom and overcoming sleep, having withstood all these with the help of God, one will receive peace of soul, spiritual joy, a benevolent disposition towards people, purification of thoughts, and gratitude towards God.

In the very Name of Jesus a great and graceful power is present. Many holy and righteous people advise repeating the Jesus Prayer (also known as the Prayer of heart), as frequently as possible; almost without interruption.

It is necessary for everyone, whether eating, drinking, sitting, serving, traveling, or in doing anything, to ceaselessly lament: "Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy upon me a sinner" in order that the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ, in descending into the depths of our hearts, may humble the serpent of destruction, and save and enlighten the soul.

"Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy upon me, a sinner." Let your attention and instruction be centered on this. Walking, eating, standing in Church before the beginning of the service, continue with the prayer on your lips and within your heart. In such a manner, with the invocation of the Name of God you will find peace, you will attain to purity of spirit and body and the Holy Spirit, the Origin of all good, will make for Himself a dwelling within you and will guide you in all purity.

Those who have truly decided to serve the Lord God must train themselves in the remembrance of God and in unceasing prayer to Jesus Christ, saying mentally, "Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy upon me, a sinner."

Through such activity, and by guarding oneself from distraction, and with the preservation of peace in one’s conscience, it is possible to draw near to God and to be united with Him. For, according to the words of St. Isaac the Syrian, "Except for unceasing prayer we cannot draw near to God"

The prayer rope is one of the items given to an Orthodox Christian monk at the rite of tonsure; it is given to him as his spiritual sword with which he, as a soldier of Christ, must make war against our spiritual enemy, the devil. This sword is wielded by calling on the name of our Lord and God and Saviour Jesus Christ in a plea for mercy, that is by praying the Jesus Prayer: "Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me a sinner." This prayer can be said in a shorter form, such as: "Lord Jesus Christ have mercy on me;" or in a longer form, as: "By the prayers of the Most Holy Theotokos and all the Saints, Lord Jesus Christ have mercy on me."

"Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy upon me, a sinner."

Breath Prayers

http://www.healthyspirituality.org/2010/10/breath-prayers.html

Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the LORD. 

 Psalm 150:6

Have you heard of “Breath Prayers?”

Breath prayers are short prayers said in one breath. Simple, repetitive and surprisingly ancient. The breath prayer generally involves quietly repeating a chosen phrase for several minutes, allowing the prayer to take on the shape of one's breathing so that the words accompany every breath.

Breath prayers can be helpful when you just don’t know what to pray, like in times of spiritual dryness or difficulties. This prayer expresses dependence and trust in God that often produces a calm and a sense of nearness to the Lord.