Today’s treble-T is things we wish _______ had more of. I can’t really think of a topic, so here’s a trio of teases instead. Oh, for those who were anticipating Blast from the Past II this week, I’m going to do it next week. Finishing up a dense history read today!
In the end, Lizzie chose insult by way of Shakespeare. It felt more
dignified. “I do wish that we could become better strangers,” she said
coldly. It took Collins a moment to register her jab, and his faux polite
expression darkened into open resentment (Pride and Premeditation)As chief of staff in the Kremlin, Voloshin occupied an office just steps from Lenin’s sarcophagus in the mausoleum. “My desk stood by the window. It was no more than fifteen meters in a straight line from me to the corpse. He was lying there, I was working here. We didn’t bother each other,” says Voloshin wryly. (All the Kremlin’s Men: Inside the Court of Vladmir Putin)
The heart itself is but a small vessel, yet dragons are there, and there are also lions; there are poisonous beasts and all the treasures of evil. But there too is God, the angels, the life and the kingdom, the light and the apostles, the heavenly cities and the treasuries of grace—all things are there. —Pseudo-Macarius, (as quoted in Philokalia: The Bible of Orthodox Spirituality)
Reading Freely 
Oh cool, I don’t often see the Philokalia on book bloggers I follow! Are you Orthodox?
I’m not, but Orthodoxy has a strong fascination for me. I converted to Christianity via the Episcopal tradition and still worship within it, but since it doesn’t really do theology my formation has been guided by Catholic theology and practice, with more Orthodox sources appearing within the last ten years. Part of that owes to one of my favorite authors, Rod Dreher, converting from Catholicism to Orthodoxy over the child abuse scandal: he frequently writes about theology and I’ve found the Orthodox frame very compelling. As a music lover, they also do wonderful chants. I’m very fond of the “Supplicatory Canon to the Theotokos”, for instance, and the Paschal Troparion. If I ever leave my city I suspect I would explore the Orthodox tradition, but as long as I’m in my city I feel a strong attachment & loyalty to the (specific) church that brought me into the fold to begin with.
Thanks for answering, this makes total sense. And yes we do have wonderful singing. During Lent, we have gorgeous hymns as well, I particularly love Open to me the gates of repentance. I cannot find the melody we sing, but this one is closest, though we sing it much more slowly: https://youtu.be/AD2Kfl8zAms?si=z0cZfHigD_LBzqYM
There are a lot of connections between Orthodoxy and the Episcopal tradition, thanks to the efforts of the Fellowship of St Alban and St Sergius.
And the former Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, has written several great books related to Orthodoxy.
Blessed spiritual journey to you!