Suffering 1: Are you terrified by pain?

• Most people in the West avoid pain, suffering, and death at all costs.
• People often use various addictive substances and activities to dull or avoid pain.
• We lock old people in nursing homes and keep kids from seeing death.
• Truly, people are terrified by the thought of pain and death.
• In some ways this is natural- even Jesus wrestled with the thought of future crucifixion in the Garden of Gethsemane, yet He said "Not my will be done, but yours" to the Father.
• Some pain is caused by our own sin, but much pain is caused by the sin of others, even by Adam and Eve's first sin.
• The world is broken and painful, as even our Lord promised, "In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world." John 16:33.
• Orthodoxy is unique in embracing unavoidable* pain and suffering. We know it is temporary until heaven where there will be no pain. (*We should not deliberately create pain for ourselves!)
• Suffering can help us to learn patience, and allows us to comfort others, if we move past our self-centred approach to pain.
• Our Lord said to "weep with those who weep", so weep in company, as part of the church. 
• Be authentic about your pain- this is the way of life.
• Allow yourself enough time to grieve and heal from suffering.
• Don't wallow on your own in pain, which is a self-centred approach, but stay connected to others.
• Don't try to manipulate others to make you feel better, but accept genuine comfort from others.
• Don't tell others "there, there, don't cry", but listen and offer genuine support- even Christ wept when His friend died.
• Let God carry you through suffering and pain, remembering that it is only temporary.
• Sometimes God will teach us things if we stay genuinely joyful despite pain! (This is different to fake plastic smiles!)
• Learn 1 Peter 4;12-13:
  "Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you;
  but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing, so that also at the revelation of His glory you may rejoice with exultation."

 

Freedom 1: True Spirituality

• The real Orthodox Christian faith has great freedom, not freedom to sin but freedom to live like Christ in creative ways.
• However, God is often seen in the West as a harsh medieval Judge Who wants to make our lives miserable.
• The West is full of guilt because it has reduced Christianity mostly to a set of rules lived in fear of an angry God.
• This Western image is really a pagan idea, like Zeus the Greek god who sends lightning bolts. Most Christians in practice think of God like this :-(
• Jesus confronted the legalism of His day and said "You shall know the Truth*, and the Truth shall set you free." (*speaking of Himself)  John 8:32.
• An example of this is fasting. If you fast out of fear that God will punish you if you don't this is a wrong attitude and will not help you at all; in fact it creates a bitter spirit. Instead, fast *as much as you can* because you love God and want to learn how to grow in self-control so you sin less.
• Learn John 3:16 "For God so LOVED the world that He sent His only-begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life." 
• Here is the wrong image of God!

Prayer 1: Frameworks and Freedom

How does Orthodox personal prayer work?

• The prayers of the Church give us a framework to help us to pray: they teach us to pray in the right God-centred way.
• The framework helps us get started and keeps us growing, like a trellis helps a plant.
• Every plant grows in an individual way, so the framework is not a legalistic prison.
• Learn gradually the church prayers and use them as a base and motivator for prayer.
• Add your own personal prayer at the end.
• Try different prayers and see what resonates most with your heart.
• Avoid getting bored, which kills prayer! (Sts Basil and Isaac etc warn about this).
• Keep reading and learning new prayers to keep your prayer fresh, and avoid a rut.
• Best to pray a little with heart feeling than a long prayer with gritted teeth.
• Sometimes you need to start with a set prayer for a few minutes to settle your mind and calm your heart, then prayer will flow freely.
• Beware turning any "prayer rule" into a straitjacket that kills your heart and prayer.
• Remember: Prayer is a relationship with God. We talk with Him and He speaks to us.
• See "Beginning to Pray" then later "The Art of Prayer" by Metropolitan Anthony. (These should be in every Orthodox Church library).