tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7656667.post8148939011927525909..comments2024-01-07T04:57:21.347-07:00Comments on Pithless Thoughts: INTRODUCING....Steve Robinsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04319784922747041297noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7656667.post-20596840916073298162010-03-09T16:04:10.452-07:002010-03-09T16:04:10.452-07:00This is going to be fun (and probably a little pai...This is going to be fun (and probably a little painful too).DebDhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12594843598589340808noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7656667.post-53067414333511592042010-03-09T10:25:45.549-07:002010-03-09T10:25:45.549-07:00if only every congregation could be so blessed to ...if only every congregation could be so blessed to have a Walter to make us pharisees recognize God's graceel cuerpo negrohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13338967562132051991noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7656667.post-14767955002353696482010-03-08T08:43:11.042-07:002010-03-08T08:43:11.042-07:00Och, Amen. I would have never known Walter if our ...Och, Amen. I would have never known Walter if our "snazzy convert Mission" hadn't gotten forced to join up with a group from the across town ethnic parish, and I would have been the poorer for it. Walter would do the "running commentary" on things too, (it must be a Carpatho-Russian thing) and sometimes funnier than Mystery Science Theater 3K... nothing and no pretenses, cradle or convert, were hidden from his clear eye. "Orthodoxy in America" will be a shadow of the real thing if we only learn "Orthodoxy" as liturgical forms and dogmatics and not decades of life in the trenches from people like this.Steve Robinsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04319784922747041297noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7656667.post-84491409417141970582010-03-07T21:18:58.923-07:002010-03-07T21:18:58.923-07:00At the Orthodox church I used to attend in St. Pau...At the Orthodox church I used to attend in St. Paul, MN, there were two old men who sat on the bench attached to the wall in the back corner. One was Carpatho-rus, the other Russian, one born in America, one got here when a small child. They were both hard of hearing. They would offer commentary throughout the Liturgy. This was a small parish with a small nave. One time Fr. Jonathan was giving an especially long homily and George turned to his buddy and barked, in that loud voice old deaf men use, "he thinks just cuzz he went to seminary that he can go on and on an on, I wish they'd teach people there when to shut up!" Everyone, including the priest, had chuckled. It was a good morning. These two men were gruff and not impressed by anything, but they also were kind, concerned about everyone's families, especially the kids, and had that sort of pause from living difficult lives (both had done blue-collar work, one a pipe-fitter, the other working for the railroad). I was away from that parish for about 8 years, and then made it back there last spring. Ancient George was still there. He gets someone to drive him to all parish and panOrthodox events at which there is free food. <br /><br />When I think of rustbelt OCA churches getting replaced with snazzy convert centers, well, I think of George, and I realize I will never, ever, be anywhere near as Orthodox as that man.Ochlophobist https://www.blogger.com/profile/13751003558600087713noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7656667.post-60764855839913285862010-03-06T22:32:07.095-07:002010-03-06T22:32:07.095-07:00Sounds like a man we should all habe been blessed ...Sounds like a man we should all habe been blessed to meet; and someone we need to have around. Thank you.Ian Climacushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04350299659929402887noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7656667.post-87392717896628533392010-03-06T20:38:13.541-07:002010-03-06T20:38:13.541-07:00JD, Actually Army. After fighting on both fronts i...JD, Actually Army. After fighting on both fronts in WWII he was never promoted. He said he seemed to have this problem with his mouth with officers. :)Steve Robinsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04319784922747041297noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7656667.post-76009541052177742112010-03-06T20:32:55.548-07:002010-03-06T20:32:55.548-07:00Walter must have surely been a Navy man.Walter must have surely been a Navy man.JDnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7656667.post-67125244824165865632010-03-06T15:33:47.840-07:002010-03-06T15:33:47.840-07:00Babushka loves Walter.Babushka loves Walter.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7656667.post-9392752916053532632010-03-06T13:00:05.283-07:002010-03-06T13:00:05.283-07:00nice to meet the lastest blog memember!nice to meet the lastest blog memember!elizabethhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00962587884124992942noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7656667.post-86945186125743289672010-03-06T12:34:17.294-07:002010-03-06T12:34:17.294-07:00Yes, I have come to appreciate the orthodoxy value...Yes, I have come to appreciate the orthodoxy value of that. It's just the monotone, nose buried in the script that makes me want to consider it the best time for a smoke break. Like Walter heard, "smoke 'em if you've got 'em". I am being a little harsh in the interest of feigned humor.JDnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7656667.post-52549295790961087802010-03-06T11:47:00.212-07:002010-03-06T11:47:00.212-07:00JD, LOL! At least in the Orthodox Church you won&#...JD, LOL! At least in the Orthodox Church you won't go to hell for smoking. :) Having been around more than a few homilies I'd say you might actually have a blessing that your priest is reading downloaded sermons. It certainly isn't as exciting as a good ol' cofC preacher, but it keeps "orthodoxy" in the Orthodox Church sometimes. :)Steve Robinsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04319784922747041297noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7656667.post-12481126680352984422010-03-06T11:33:48.380-07:002010-03-06T11:33:48.380-07:00I think I will start smoking, at least until some ...I think I will start smoking, at least until some of these fellows quit reading downloaded sermons.<br /><br />Is this turning into a ex-CoC therapy group?JDnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7656667.post-3000711665982584332010-03-06T11:17:57.610-07:002010-03-06T11:17:57.610-07:00You're way to easy... :)You're way to easy... :)Steve Robinsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04319784922747041297noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7656667.post-33941474862731495022010-03-06T11:16:51.508-07:002010-03-06T11:16:51.508-07:00I'm already a fan.I'm already a fan.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10853210342855324621noreply@blogger.com