In an Orthodox Funeral for a departed loved one, there is a very pointed and direct verse that is said by the priest, that always sticks with me, even after I move on to the next few verses:

Let us go forth and gaze into the graves, for man is naked bones, food for the worms, and stench. Only thenwill we learn of what are true riches, and comeliness, beauty, and strength!

Why does that verse hit so hard those who hear it?  Because it is a pure does of truth that so many in the world, especially living in our material driven society, do not want to admit: The desire to gain money, power, and wealth, those things which the world holds so dear, are meaningless to the existence of mankind.  

“Thoughts are like airplanes flying in the air.  If you ignore them, there is no problem.  But if you pay attention to them, you create an airport inside your head and permit them to land!”

There was a report in the associated press this past week that found that 70% of Americans are experiencing tremendous anxiety and stress over the presidential election, and who can blame them?  Every time you turn on the radio, or flick on the tv, or want to listen to your favorite Orthodox hymns on Youtube, you are nailed with a 10 second clip of how President Trump is Hitler reincarnated and wants to publicly execute those who are disloyal to him…or how Vice President Harris is going to allow Haitian Migrants to come your back door and shoot your dog “fluffy” (with the guns she wants to outlaw) so they can have a BBQ on your back lawn (which by the way they are now entitled to because they are squatters.) 

We have an election coming up in two weeks…and despite the campaign promises from all of those who are running, if we are convinced that the world is going to be a more perfect place after November 5th because of the promises they are making…we are in delusion. 

Yes…all of us here today need to and should go out and vote…but “put not your trust in princes, in sons of men, in whom there is no salvation.”  If we truly want to have an impact on the state of the world…on the way that we live…on the way that we respond to the harsh difficulties of this life…

“Just Pray…”

There is a repulsive religion that has swept over the world…one that is even older than Christianity itself.  It is one that all of us, by virtue of our baptism and chrismation into the Holy Orthodox Church, have sworn to leave behind! Yet on an almost daily basis, we tend to look back and to follow after it’s teachings and rituals! It is called the “religion of self.”