I was walking today through Lake View cemetery (a very beautiful place in Cleveland, OH). I usually love walking in parks, but something about 50+ weather, gorgeous colors made it even more beautiful. As I went through the Garfield memorial ( the 20th president was buried in Cleveland) I stumbled upon Wade Chapel. As I walked into this marvelous piece of art and worship, I made a contact with the gatekeeper. He looked vaguely familiar. A couple of seconds later I realized that he was my person that I talked to when we visited assisted living facility for community clinicals. He was 90 year old man in perfect health for his age. He told me about his life, what he did when he was younger, about his children. He also told me that he was about to go pick his wife up from a manor to go out for dinner. She wasn't doing very well. There he was keeping watch on this great monument, Sunday afternoon. I wonder how many times he has sat down there when he was alone and asked God for healing for his wife. Asking Him, if there is anything to do to alleviate her pain. I guess I'll never know.
I smiled to him, but did not say anything else. With HIPPA laws I wasn't sure what the correct behavior would have been, but just in case I didn't say anything. It seemed like he rememebred me as well, but did not say anything.
As I walking back, I took a mental picture of a man walking towards the chapel, praying for all of us, guarding what makes us, us.
Darina
Sunday, October 25, 2009
Friday, October 2, 2009
Hope and faith
I had my clinicals on Wednesday. I guess I should explain that I work on Women's Health Oncology Unit. Most women are there with Ovarian+ types of cancers. Some of them are over 70 years of age, some of them just let their kids go to junior high. Cancer gets ahold of you no matter if you're 80 or 20.
Back to the patient. She was a carling lady, who was just admitted to the hospital for a suspicious pelvic mass. She has a history of ovarian cancer. I had alone time with her in the morning before all her children showed up with their spouses, asking for extra chairs to be put into the room. Right before she went in for a surgery, I stopped by to check up on her. As I glanced over the door, I saw them standing together in a circle... praying. I almost melted! What a wonderful thing to see. She had all her family there to support her, to wait for her in the lounge, to offer her extra pillows, and water when she needed it. She became stronger because of them, she left the room smiling because of them. God gave her people who love her. Not everyone gets this amazing support system, who are there with you through thick and thin. What a privilege! Let us thank God for families and friends in our lives, after all, who are we without them?
DM
Back to the patient. She was a carling lady, who was just admitted to the hospital for a suspicious pelvic mass. She has a history of ovarian cancer. I had alone time with her in the morning before all her children showed up with their spouses, asking for extra chairs to be put into the room. Right before she went in for a surgery, I stopped by to check up on her. As I glanced over the door, I saw them standing together in a circle... praying. I almost melted! What a wonderful thing to see. She had all her family there to support her, to wait for her in the lounge, to offer her extra pillows, and water when she needed it. She became stronger because of them, she left the room smiling because of them. God gave her people who love her. Not everyone gets this amazing support system, who are there with you through thick and thin. What a privilege! Let us thank God for families and friends in our lives, after all, who are we without them?
DM
Saturday, September 19, 2009
Oh boy
Well, I haven't kept up with the blog that much, have I?
The idea of blogging sounds soo good, but then when you actually are doing it, it's hard! Seems quite odd to me.
I joined a Bible study group here at Case Western University (didn't know I moved to Cleveland, did you?) We are going to be studying the Epistle to the Ephesians, and I'm very excited about it. I'm doing it with my roommate and various people from the Christian Group on Campus, Intervarsity.
Recently a number of events led to behave in an abnormal way towards someone very close to me. I tried to help this person, but instead up thought of myself as a hurt one, which is not true. I got my feelings in my way of reaching out. I didn't realize their problems would affect me this much in this profound way, but they did. I pray that God will be merciful towards them in the next coming weeks...
The idea of blogging sounds soo good, but then when you actually are doing it, it's hard! Seems quite odd to me.
I joined a Bible study group here at Case Western University (didn't know I moved to Cleveland, did you?) We are going to be studying the Epistle to the Ephesians, and I'm very excited about it. I'm doing it with my roommate and various people from the Christian Group on Campus, Intervarsity.
Recently a number of events led to behave in an abnormal way towards someone very close to me. I tried to help this person, but instead up thought of myself as a hurt one, which is not true. I got my feelings in my way of reaching out. I didn't realize their problems would affect me this much in this profound way, but they did. I pray that God will be merciful towards them in the next coming weeks...
Saturday, May 2, 2009
Forgiveness
Halo!
I was going to write on this topic for a while, and now, I feel is the perfect opportunity.
I have wronged somebody and they have done something negative towards me. Now, if it was me 5-6-7 years ago, I would have told that person everything I thought about him/her and stormed off in the vast foyer of the house. Fortunately, this time this whole thing ended up being a life lesson for me, which I hope to keep for the years to come.
It was so incredibly hard to forgive someone who did not say a nice thing towards me. It is so easy to forgive those who have not wronged against us, or said something to upset us. We have forgiveness Sunday right before Great Lent. We go around the church , family, and friends saying, "Forgive, me a sinner" and the person replies, "God forgives". But do we really mean it? Somebody very close to me, non Orthodox, said to me, "Why do you not confess the actual sins, when we say this? Wouldn't it be more personal and more meaningful?" He didn't feel like it was worth going around saying those words to strangers. Now, I see where he was coming from and understand his confusion. I, myself, struggled with the same ideas for some time.
On that Sunday, I was in church and I was standing there, praying, "Please God, grant me to forgive the person who has done me wrong. Give me strength not to turn the other cheek and ask that person to forgive me as well, as I might have initiated this conflict between us." The whole time, I was in tears, as I was realizing that part of me still held a grudge and hurt. It scared me a lot. How are we to forgive one another? Now I moved a bit closer to understanding why God's greatest teaching is to love on another in Christ.
I pray that we, as a nation, will have the courage to say, "I'm sorry" to our brothers and sisters in Christ, non-believers, family, friends, those we do not know very well and MEAN it! Forgiveness is a gift from God that is granted upon asking for it in prayer. When it is given to you, everything else falls away and you realize so much more His sacrifice to you.
Blessings,
Darina
I was going to write on this topic for a while, and now, I feel is the perfect opportunity.
I have wronged somebody and they have done something negative towards me. Now, if it was me 5-6-7 years ago, I would have told that person everything I thought about him/her and stormed off in the vast foyer of the house. Fortunately, this time this whole thing ended up being a life lesson for me, which I hope to keep for the years to come.
It was so incredibly hard to forgive someone who did not say a nice thing towards me. It is so easy to forgive those who have not wronged against us, or said something to upset us. We have forgiveness Sunday right before Great Lent. We go around the church , family, and friends saying, "Forgive, me a sinner" and the person replies, "God forgives". But do we really mean it? Somebody very close to me, non Orthodox, said to me, "Why do you not confess the actual sins, when we say this? Wouldn't it be more personal and more meaningful?" He didn't feel like it was worth going around saying those words to strangers. Now, I see where he was coming from and understand his confusion. I, myself, struggled with the same ideas for some time.
On that Sunday, I was in church and I was standing there, praying, "Please God, grant me to forgive the person who has done me wrong. Give me strength not to turn the other cheek and ask that person to forgive me as well, as I might have initiated this conflict between us." The whole time, I was in tears, as I was realizing that part of me still held a grudge and hurt. It scared me a lot. How are we to forgive one another? Now I moved a bit closer to understanding why God's greatest teaching is to love on another in Christ.
I pray that we, as a nation, will have the courage to say, "I'm sorry" to our brothers and sisters in Christ, non-believers, family, friends, those we do not know very well and MEAN it! Forgiveness is a gift from God that is granted upon asking for it in prayer. When it is given to you, everything else falls away and you realize so much more His sacrifice to you.
Blessings,
Darina
Monday, April 20, 2009
Christ is Risen!
Indeed He has risen!
This celebration of Pascha was simply wonderful. It was first filled with bittersweet feelings on Christ dying on the cross for us, then joyful outcries of the ressurection. I spent the day/night being syrrounded by my other family, and truly had an excellent time. I still can't get over the fact I CAN EAT MEAT! Very duper super cool!
Most importantly, we've been granted the joy of living with Him in the everending Kingdom! Death had been prevailed... Rejoice! Darina
This celebration of Pascha was simply wonderful. It was first filled with bittersweet feelings on Christ dying on the cross for us, then joyful outcries of the ressurection. I spent the day/night being syrrounded by my other family, and truly had an excellent time. I still can't get over the fact I CAN EAT MEAT! Very duper super cool!
Most importantly, we've been granted the joy of living with Him in the everending Kingdom! Death had been prevailed... Rejoice! Darina
Monday, April 13, 2009
Holy Monday!
haya!
I decided this Lenten period to go to every possible service this week before Pascha. Some people might think it's crazy, so might love the idea, but I just don't see any other way to spend Passion week. I don't think I'm capable to experience the mockery, spitting, complete denial as did Christ, but God willing, I can experience the spiritual suffering he had to endure. Great Lent passed very quickly, and, honestly, I did not have "time" to cross off all the things on my not-to-do list. Part of me says, "let's go back and do it all over again" but I cannot. There is no going back. What we did we offer up to Christ. Here's the most important part though. He gives us back so much more!
Sometimes I cannot comprehend his sufferings and pain for OUR sins. It overwhelms me, I choke up looking at the Cross. We are these little people, going about our ways, until He comes amongst us and leads us by the power of the Holy Spirit into being more Christ-like. Isn't it a beautiful thing? All we can do now, since thre is no going back to redoing Great Lent is to attend services, offer ourselves up even more, pray like there is no tomorrow, and attempt at comprehending His suffering.
May God grant us tears of repentance and love towards the One who gave us everything!
Blessings,
Darina
I decided this Lenten period to go to every possible service this week before Pascha. Some people might think it's crazy, so might love the idea, but I just don't see any other way to spend Passion week. I don't think I'm capable to experience the mockery, spitting, complete denial as did Christ, but God willing, I can experience the spiritual suffering he had to endure. Great Lent passed very quickly, and, honestly, I did not have "time" to cross off all the things on my not-to-do list. Part of me says, "let's go back and do it all over again" but I cannot. There is no going back. What we did we offer up to Christ. Here's the most important part though. He gives us back so much more!
Sometimes I cannot comprehend his sufferings and pain for OUR sins. It overwhelms me, I choke up looking at the Cross. We are these little people, going about our ways, until He comes amongst us and leads us by the power of the Holy Spirit into being more Christ-like. Isn't it a beautiful thing? All we can do now, since thre is no going back to redoing Great Lent is to attend services, offer ourselves up even more, pray like there is no tomorrow, and attempt at comprehending His suffering.
May God grant us tears of repentance and love towards the One who gave us everything!
Blessings,
Darina
Friday, March 6, 2009
Great Lent: time for repentence
Halo!
Last time I wrote here, lots of things were stagnant. My prayer was not moving, school life was slow and outside was constantly snowing and cold. Now, it is spring outside (well, almost you can never be too sure with Michigan's weather).
Great Lent has started 4 days ago. I've been going to the readings of Canon of St. Andrew every day this week, except Monday. It's a canon about forgiveness and repentance, through we may achieve salvation. I started to think about it more, and realized how through forgiving others we put ourselves low and make ourselves humble in front of others. I think to truly forgive one another, we should say how we have done wrong to this person in specific terms. Of course, this wouldn't apply to the people we don't know (unless we have wronged them in thoughts). But to others it could apply. Imagine the outrage and the humility that will come with it! I think we should take time from our lives to think of how we have done wrong to each other, how we hurt one another, and ask God for forgiveness. He will forgive! He's merciful, and just like in marriage, He will always turn his hands towards us and forgive wholeheartedly!
My hopes for this Great Lenten period is acquiring humility, forgiveness of others, love towards family and closed ones, appreciation for what has been given to me, decrease of a voice called pride, and finding out what's ahead in my life! It is so exciting. Lent IS the period to start thinking about these things, and I pray that I remain strong not to succumb to temptations.
About 2 weeks ago during my spring break, I visited a monastery in Jackson, MI. It was a wonderful stay, I had a chance to hang out with a friend, nuns there, and had time to pray by myself for a while. It is such a great spiritual place, made for growth for others. What a blessing to stay there and witness the obedience of nuns and novices towards each other and towards their Heavenly Father. It shows that a human being doesn't need much, but to pray and give thanks. We can survive on a bare minimum. A friend sent me a video showing Romanian hermit nuns and monks, who live out in the wilderness, in caves and do not show their faces to anyone. I thought it was such a strong testimony to today's world, where Iphones are replacing face-to-face conversations and headphones occupy people's ears on buses. Something to think about, I guess.
Blessings,
Darina
Last time I wrote here, lots of things were stagnant. My prayer was not moving, school life was slow and outside was constantly snowing and cold. Now, it is spring outside (well, almost you can never be too sure with Michigan's weather).
Great Lent has started 4 days ago. I've been going to the readings of Canon of St. Andrew every day this week, except Monday. It's a canon about forgiveness and repentance, through we may achieve salvation. I started to think about it more, and realized how through forgiving others we put ourselves low and make ourselves humble in front of others. I think to truly forgive one another, we should say how we have done wrong to this person in specific terms. Of course, this wouldn't apply to the people we don't know (unless we have wronged them in thoughts). But to others it could apply. Imagine the outrage and the humility that will come with it! I think we should take time from our lives to think of how we have done wrong to each other, how we hurt one another, and ask God for forgiveness. He will forgive! He's merciful, and just like in marriage, He will always turn his hands towards us and forgive wholeheartedly!
My hopes for this Great Lenten period is acquiring humility, forgiveness of others, love towards family and closed ones, appreciation for what has been given to me, decrease of a voice called pride, and finding out what's ahead in my life! It is so exciting. Lent IS the period to start thinking about these things, and I pray that I remain strong not to succumb to temptations.
About 2 weeks ago during my spring break, I visited a monastery in Jackson, MI. It was a wonderful stay, I had a chance to hang out with a friend, nuns there, and had time to pray by myself for a while. It is such a great spiritual place, made for growth for others. What a blessing to stay there and witness the obedience of nuns and novices towards each other and towards their Heavenly Father. It shows that a human being doesn't need much, but to pray and give thanks. We can survive on a bare minimum. A friend sent me a video showing Romanian hermit nuns and monks, who live out in the wilderness, in caves and do not show their faces to anyone. I thought it was such a strong testimony to today's world, where Iphones are replacing face-to-face conversations and headphones occupy people's ears on buses. Something to think about, I guess.
Blessings,
Darina
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