Perpend (David), who I started the podcast with, became an Orthodox monk and is now a Novice Monk at the Monastery of St. John in CA.
As he was travelling from monastery to monastery throughout America, he occasionally was back in Kansas (the last time in September 2023). He would greet me, and others, with a greeting that he likely learned in his travels: Instead of saying, "Hi, how are you?", he would say, "How goes the struggle?"
Instead of giving the usual response of "I am fine", you would think about it for a moment. This led to a more real and heartfelt conversation.
In Orthodox Christianity there is a prayer: "Help the Orthodox Christians to struggle".
Not "Help us get through the struggle". Not "Help us not to struggle".
If you are saying to yourself, "That's un-American!", then you have lost touch with your history and tradition.
I could go on for paragraphs here about how we have lost this touchstone of our human existence.
We knew this just 100 years ago. The janitor knew that he was janitor and measured where he was in the world. He would hope and prepare his children to have a life better than his, but he knew where he was. In modern days, through credit the janitor thinks he can drive that fancy car.
We watch TV or a movie and cheer when the hero goes through trials and comes out the victor at the end. We respond to these because these Hero's Journey stories are in our DNA.
But now we watch the Hero's Journey story and do not want to experience trials and struggles ourselves.
People watch TV and movies with the Hero’s Journey and then grumble, complain, and take meds when they are called to the Hero’s Journey.
We need to struggle. We need the Hero's Journey.
It all comes down to your mindset.
Also - How is Great Lent going?
Show notes for this episode: Ep. 157 - How Goes the Struggle?
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