The Orthodox Home

"In the Orthodox worldview, the home and the family constitute the first and most important area of Christian life, of application of Christian principles to daily existence. It is certainly the home, the very style and spirit of family life, and not the school, not even the Church, that shapes our fundamental worldview, that shapes in us that fundamental orientation of which we may not even be aware for a long time, but which ultimately will become a decisive factor."

Fr Schmemann wrote the preceeding words under the section : A Lenten "Style of Life" in his book Great Lent Journey to Pascha.

Today marks the very first day of our very first Lenten journey together as an Orthodox family in Malaysia. As a newly-illumined family, we don't have anyone as role model nor any seniors to refer to in our "Mayflower" journey to our promised land. For the time being, no gerontas, no presbytera or lenten recipes to emulate. We will have to D-I-Y for practical reasons, only some written lenten rubrics and rules to follow.

The lingering longing to see a full fledged Orthodox Church still hovers above my mind from time to time. But Fr Daniel's last sermon reminded us that the Church starts from us, the christian, at our home, our icons or prayer corner, our time with our family. Fr Daniel cleared my faulty mindset of having "quality" time with my family or the physicality of the Church. Time spent with my family at prayers is quality time. Reading to them the Lives of the Saints (with occasional dramatic and heroic emphasis) and prostrations are doing us good. This is what consitute the Church Tradition, doing instead of talking, or thinking... oops.

"Lent is a spiritual journey and its destination is Easter, "the Feast of Feasts". It is the preparation for the fulfillment of Pascha, the true Revelation" Fr Alexander Schmemann

We had begun the journey and will continue along this barren path for the time being, but I am contented for having my family with me. We may not be perfect in our obedience to the lenten rules, but we will try. And hence we will try to keep coming together everynight, asking for each others forgiveness and forgiving one another.

It is also a time when I have to seek your forgiveness, please forgive me and pray for me, a sinner.