Date: Wed, 23 Mar 1994 14:58:40 -0500
Reply-To: Orthodox Christianity <ORTHODOX@IUBVM.BITNET>
Sender: Orthodox Christianity <ORTHODOX@IUBVM.BITNET>
From: rev dcn mark gilstrap <anachem@BRONZE.UCS.INDIANA.EDU>
Subject: Lenten travelogue
While timing couldn't have been worse - The 1st Week of Lent - I was afforded the opportunity to travel to my "home" turf to visit my recently departed relatives' graves (not bad timing for the remembrance of death). I thought I would compose a travelogue since I've really enjoyed the ones that others have posted.
Leaving at one in the morning so that the 5 kids, especially 3 month old Kyranna, could stay asleep, we drove 800 miles on Saturday. I was very blessed to concelebrate with Fr Anthony Nelson in Oklahoma City for Sunday Liturgy and Presanctified Wednesday evening. He was very happy to hold a baby that was content nuzzling in a beard and did so for a very long time Wednesday night in the "special chair" in Trapeza for nursing mothers and aboonahs.
In order to avoid the sleep-inducing toll-extracting turnpike, we chose to take a back road to Tulsa. I decided to go an extra bit out of the way to visit my great grandparents' grave in Stillwater. While eating lunch on the tailgate, I noticed that some cedar trees at the foot of her grave had been trimmed. Behind them were two large Arbor Vitae bushes that separated with each gust of the warm and dry Oklahoma wind revealing a six foot wrought iron Russian Cross. There, buried less than 20 feet from my relative was Maria, whose grave marker was such a joyful symbol and welcome discovery. We venerated the cross and felt really at home in the noetic presence of God's symbol of victory.
It was my dear departed pioneer gr. grandmother at whose feet I listened as a child to first-hand stories about moving in a covered wagon from Iowa to Indian Territory more than a hundred years ago with my gr. grandfather. It was at her feet that I now found a pioneer of Faith, my Faith, and new-found heritage.
While I was in Tulsa I was invited by my sister-in-law to talk about the history of Russian Orthodoxy to her honors high school History class (juniors and seniors). I declined of course, but then later did agree after realizing what a lout I was when she actually begged.
I had spoken to gifted and talented classes at the elementary and junior high levels about various topics (Chemistry, Geology, etc...) but had never spoken on a subject so close to my heart, nor to so potentially challenging an audience. My sister-in-law and matushka insisted that I wear my cassock and identify myself as a clergyman. I had never before spoken as a clergyman outside of Church - except on the ORTHODOX list - but that's different.
I was really more concerned about being a bad example of the Church than anything, but I swallowed my pride and just did it.
I was absolutely unprepared. It went marvelously. They were so eager and bright. They had been studying the history of religion from an eclectic collection of sources for the past several months (as part of their broader studies). An intern teacher who specialized in all the right words etc... had given them all sorts of background. I knew (and still know) nothing of what they had actually covered. I simply crossed myself and began.
A very short 55 minutes later it was as quiet as the First Hour after a long Vigil. I had somehow ended my brief history of the world - up to the end - by briefly mentioning the End. Whatever I said (and I don't really know) about the previous 2500 years all made sense. I used all their new words. "It tied the whole year's study together perfectly" said the student teacher. "That's Orthodoxy", I replied "it's the fullness of understanding."
Too bad there's not a Church in the vicinity. I think there were dozens of potential converts at that moment. Drawn by the black cassocked long-haired and bearded image, passers-by in the hall skipped their scheduled classes and joined the crowd. My daughter and sister-in-law said the experience was the talk of the lunch-room in this small-town semi-rural high school outside Tulsa. It was "so cool!"
I was operating on auto-pilot and know that it was not my words, but the truth of Orthodoxy that spoke to the hearts of these young people. I was exhausted, but felt great - it was really a lot like the feeling at the end of an All-Night Vigil. At the risk of sounding like one of Tulsa's well-known evangelical preachers, it did "feel" like the Holy Spirit joined there with those who were gathered in His name (in Public School!).
Sunday I found myself back in Missouri at my parish home of the last 6+ years. This time it was to join in the Feast of the Triumph of Orthodoxy, to say good-bye to the parish, and, at the feet of my spiritual father's grave, to kiss the same cross that I found all along the path of our travels. We have no earthly home, but everywhere we went it was home because of Christ and His Cross.
After Liturgy the Service for All Those Who Have Fallen into Error was served. We spent the day embracing with words and sight those who we would not see for some time. Most of the warm afternoon I spent with the brotherhood of the Hermitage of the Holy Cross, including two novices [now Frs Seraphim and Andrew] who had returned after 5 years of separation. It was a warm homecoming even as we left for my new assignment at St George's parish in Cincinnati.
It was terrible timing, but actually a wonderful beginning to the Lenten Spring, and a new beginning for Life. Glory to God.
(sorry if this sounds sappy, but it has been a long 'winter' for me the last year or so and last spring I only saw death - this Lent is so very much different - maybe the list needs a little sappiness)
fr mark