The icon of St. Paisios of Mount Athos I love best!
On Despair and on Hope….
Sorrow, Despondency, Sadness, Despair, Gloom – a whole variety of “negative emotions” (to quote St. Paisios of Mt. Athos) are one of the strongest characteristics of our times. About Despair: https://livingorthodoxfaith.blogspot.com/2009/11/on-despair-by-st-john-of-kronstadt.html About Hope: https://oca.org/orthodoxy/the-orthodox-faith/spirituality/the-virtues/hope
C.S. Lewis Ön the Inner Ring”
One of the more thought-provoking of C.S. Lewis’ essays: http://www.lewissociety.org/innerring.php
Thoughts about moments when God seems close
Most everyone has experienced those rare moments when God seems very close, very real to us on a direct and even personal level. G.K. Chesterton once described this poetically as when a person with their eyes closed is suddenly aware that someone has walked quietly by them – they are dimly aware of the vibration of the other person walking and the wind as the other person’s clothes flutter in the breeze. But for some it seems that they are made aware of Him or reminded of His presence in an active and even personal way through people, events and even “things” which we suddenly become aware of, either in…
Father Dmitru Stanilaoe on Christian poetry
Wonderful reminders and teaching by a brilliant, well-rounded, broad perspective’d mind and heart – Fr. Dmitru is one of my favorite contemporary Orthodox writers and speaks from the deep well of personal experience, like all true Christians ought.