“I guess that’s something else we have to learn...spiritual authority.”
Ah, well, AG, having a spiritual father is a great blessing.
As for doing un-Orthodox things, well, becoming an Orthodox Christian and developing an Orthodox phronema is usually a long process. The metanoia you experience, however, is total. Orthodox Christians look at the world differently than other people do. A non-Orthodox culture, like the one we live in here in the West, is in many ways antithetical to an Orthodox mindset and makes the process a hard one. In Orthodox countries, at least in those parts of them which haven’t become seduced by the worst the West has to offer, the people “walk Orthodox”, even the cocks “crow Orthodox” as my wife says. Its easier to think Orthodox there. Orthodoxy is simply part of everything there in a way that Western Christianity simply isn’t around here anymore.
In any event, your priest was undoubtedly right in baptizing you when he did. Likely it was clear to him that you needed to be fully part of the Eucharistic community of The Church and to participate fully in her liturgical/sacramental life to advance further in your theosis. Those flowers you brought home are part of that.
Thanks Kolo,
I appreciate your opinion, because it helps confirm or deny my thoughts on these matters. I’ve been trying to learn some Russian so that someday (God willing) I’ll be able to go. I want to see Valaam Monastery. I’ve visited their website many times and use some of the pictures as wallpaper.
Back on topic a little. My mother (charismatic proty) sent me an email with with some little feel good Joel Osteen kind of blurb. So I sent her a reply with the Icon of the Exaltation of the Cross. Along with a happy reply about the Feast Day of course!