Frederica Mathewes-Green, our speaker for the weekend at Epiphany Church in Denver, is an Orthodox Christian. Her writings include The Illumined Heart, a short book on Christian devotions and disciplines in an expanded orthodox framework, the subject of this weekend's series of four talks.
Last night I read her book. It was a good, short read. The most important part of it for my life was the perspective she uses to explain forgiveness. She talks about the importance of our "smaller circle" and "larger circle" social environments. Our family and our church, and even the world, present us with means to grow in Christ. They are not distractions or obstacles, they are means. The result is that I now look at my difficult relationships and even at my "enemies" with great gratitude and humility. Christ has sent them to me to smooth my rough edges so that I can come closer to Him. What a wonderful angle! Heretofore, I have considered my immediate relationships as useful tests, sent to me by God for His purpose. But, I have had no way to communicate this to others that meant anything to them. Our modern times lean toward the invocation of "righteousness" with victimhood in difficult social relationships, a destructive combination. Now I can think and act in terms of using relationships to "grow".
Praise be to you, Lord Christ.