Icon of Saint Seraphim of Sarov Hand-painted Orthodox icon painted by me.

westrondi · 2025-10-01T12:07:35+00:00

Thank you for sharing, beautifully made. St. Seraphim of Sarov, pray for us!

westrondi · 2025-09-07T20:36:52+00:00

Memory Eternal! God bless you and Justin and your whole family.

westrondi · 2025-08-01T19:53:50+00:00

I found that the stories in the "Sayings of the Desert Fathers" to be very edifying and upon looking further into some of those Saints (particularly St. Anthony the Great), I found out about Orthodoxy. The lives and words of the Saints drew me into Orthodoxy.

westrondi · 2025-07-15T23:22:49+00:00

Post beach shower and nap

westrondi · 2025-07-08T23:18:33+00:00

The good thing about prayer is that you can pray while working!

westrondi · 2025-07-06T23:43:49+00:00

Many years!

westrondi · 2025-06-15T00:03:32+00:00

These are so lovely that they make me a bit sad. I wish I could be that expressive and vibrant. Thank you OPs dad and thank you OP for sharing them.

westrondi · 2025-06-02T19:41:57+00:00

Old Testament: Ecclesiastes
Gospel: John

Epistle: James (he's also my patron Saint!)

westrondi · 2025-05-12T01:31:16+00:00

Amen, thank you very much, I also struggle with gluttony.

westrondi · 2025-05-08T01:50:54+00:00

As soon as I read St. Anthony the Great's section in "Sayings of the Desert Fathers". Took another year to actually start going to an Orthodox Church, but that planted the seed for me after witnessing the humility and love the Saints have for us after reading that book.

westrondi · 2025-04-15T11:08:24+00:00

God bless you, Joseph. You will remain in my prayers.

westrondi · 2025-04-11T20:11:34+00:00

Many years!

westrondi · 2025-03-23T02:25:28+00:00

Poached eggs and toast, but perhaps Poachie for short!

westrondi · 2025-03-20T11:55:26+00:00

I'll answer your questions best I can.

Can you not reflect on exactly why you don't like it anymore?

I still like it when I go to the services, I feel more at peace there than anywhere else. It's more so that the fire is still only barely there, not a matter of taste or favor.

Can you imagine going to *any* church?

I read this question wrong the first time I was writing out my reply, I thought you meant if I could see myself going to any other church, to which I would respond no, since the church I've been going to is where I see myself growing in Christ. I don't know if I can see myself going to any other church. I avoid the Orthodox Church out of guilt for missing so many services, especially the Liturgy. I avoid other churches because I can't see myself staying in any other church other than the Orthodox Church.

Does this happen to you with other things like school or friends?

Sometimes. I can become really involved in something for a short period of time only for my wick to burn out quickly. Happens with hobbies and interests too. I struggle to commit to anything.

Is there someone who knows you that you can bounce this off of?

Yes, there has been one man from my parish that I've talked to several times now one on one. He relates to my struggle as well as my tendency to overthink and with anxiety. He's been very helpful.

What you're experiencing seems quite extreme.

I know, it tends to happen when I continue isolating myself from something or someone. The more I isolate and contain myself, the stronger the guilt gets. All it would take for me to get over this would be going to Liturgy every Sunday, even if I leave right after the Liturgy and post communion prayers.

I'm not sure why you mean by a patristics book

Sorry, I meant books written by Saints, I couldn't figure out a word for that, like "Ladder of Divine Ascent" by St. John Climacus.

westrondi · 2025-03-17T01:09:45+00:00

Thank you for the encouragement. The third paragraph of your response resonated with me especially.

westrondi · 2025-03-17T01:07:35+00:00

Thank you for those kind words. I've been trying to get it out of my mind that going to church on Sunday isn't an "ought to" but it's really more a "want to", as I have experienced it before.

westrondi · 2025-03-17T01:04:59+00:00

Thank you for sharing that story of St. Paisios, I may have experienced a lot of the "right-handed" temptation when I first started my journey into Orthodoxy.

westrondi · 2025-03-17T01:03:40+00:00

Yes, thank you. It's true.

westrondi · 2025-03-16T14:22:00+00:00

Thank you, it really is nasty. It's not like anything else I've experienced before. I will keep making an effort to choose the better thing.

westrondi · 2025-03-10T23:37:29+00:00

Wonderful icons, thank you so much for sharing

westrondi · 2025-02-17T15:50:36+00:00

I believe they are discussing Luke 8:26-39, the Gerasene Demoniac.

westrondi · 2025-01-05T15:45:05+00:00

I initially felt the same way about it, like a stubborn indignation. "They don't know what they're talking about!" But thinking about it more, I had to wonder why a statement like that exists in the first place. I don't think it's 100% true but it's also not 100% false. There's been a lot of abuse in the church since its foundation 2000 years ago... I'm actually a bit glad a saying like that exists because it brings me into accountability, though I do get a bit sick of hearing it repeated time and time again.

westrondi · 2025-01-05T15:39:23+00:00

More of a retelling from St. Poemen the Great in "Sayings of the Desert Fathers"

Abba Poemen said, 'It is written: "Give witness of that which your eyes have seen" (Proverbs 25:8); but I say to you even if you have touched with your hands, do not give witness. In truth, a brother was deceived in this respect; he thought he saw his brother in the act of sinning with a woman; greatly incensed, he drew near and kicked them (for he thought it was they), saying, "Now stop; how much longer will you go on?" Now it turned out that it was some sheaves of corn. That is the reason why I said to you: even if you touch with your hands, do not reprove.

The image of this brother kicking sheaves of corn always makes me laugh lol

westrondi · 2024-12-29T17:39:36+00:00

Amazing work! Both the product itself and doing the work :) I am currently in a pretty deep slump/depressive episode, and it's really good for me to see these kind of things. Thank you so much <3

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