Exploring Orthodoxy

Request for report comes forth.

I send it via e-mail, and state, explicitly, “As I am rather busy please e-mail me with any changes you need.”

Phone rings. ID indicates report requestee. I [foolishly] ignore.

15 seconds later…I see person approaching. I mutter. And curse. And mutter. Person arrives. “One change I need…I would like…”

I cut in: “Did I not say I was busy and to e-mail me?”

“Yes…but it is only a small change.”

“Please. E-mail me.” [in head]Just Go Away![/in head]

Person leaves.

I rejoice. And mutter.

2 hours and 15 minutes left. God, give me strength.

Filed under: Work on June 18th, 2009 | 3 Comments »

Well, in 34 hours at least [not that I am counting].

Final day at work today for 3 weeks: it has been a busy week, a frustrating week [see below]: but I think I am at a place where I can leave with some confidence I have done all that is required and have passed on knowledge to others who can deal with any IT issues I take care of in my absence.

Singapore Airlines lets you check in from 48 hours before your flight so I have my seat: no window seats left [sadly -- my favourite] from Sydney to Singapore, so I plumped for the top deck [on an A380] to at least experience that. From Singapore to Istanbul, via Dubai, I can relax [sleep?] at the window content I do not need to get up for anyone for whom nature calls or for whom a stretch is desired [I know one should stretch, but I prefer to stay seated and wander before and after...].

After three days in Istanbul, I will leave for Tbilisi, Georgia, where I will have two days before the tour begins [and one day-and-a-bit afterwards: my flight back to Istanbul leaves at 04:20!] For those who want to play along at home, here is the Georgian itinerary: I cannot wait.

And I cannot believe I leave tomorrow! Talk to you all, and bore you with endless photos and descriptions, in early July.

Filed under: Church History, Culture, Holidays, Monasticism, Music on June 18th, 2009 | 4 Comments »

Nothing to see here…unless you are a pop tragic like me!

[edit: oh -- that is easy. And to think I work in IT... :rolls eyes: ]

Filed under: Music on June 18th, 2009 | No Comments »

After the praise in the last post…

Is it too much to ask colleagues to contact the Team Leader responsible if something is not working — or they have a question about a business process?

I may work in IT, but that does not mean I handle every call for every situation: just because a program runs on a computer system does not mean I need to be called upon to investigate every minor issue. If the file you were expecting did not arrive, why ask me first? Ask the Team Leader responsible and see if they know. The systems may be fine: the team may be busy: or out of the office: or may’ve forgotten: or something else may’ve happened.

I speak direct to Team Leaders: at my office and at the office down the road — not the head IT guy down the road if we were expecting something from them. Is it too much to ask for this to be reciprocated? And, if you call me, and I ask you to speak to the Team Leader, do not ask, “Can you?” No. I have my own work. They can give you the answer direct. Why make work any more difficult than it needs to be?…why involve a middle man? And if you call my assistant and ask him to speak to the Team Leader and find out, when I have explicitly asked you to go to the Team Leader, do I not have the right to be frustrated….and perhaps a bit upset even? Even though I felt terrible afterwards and called back and apologised for any shortness [Ephesians 4:26b is a verse I hold dear]: I know I need to work on my delivery…Lord have mercy.

Small things I know. But still damn frustrating.

Filed under: Work on June 16th, 2009 | 4 Comments »

Still here to disturb you until Friday at least. 3 more days of work…aaahhhhhh…

Thank you for all the comments, wishes and prayers: I can still scarcely believe I am going. Cannot wait.

A bit busy at work…trying to get things done before I go: and some things, as Murphy would have it, have taken longer than expected. But I am getting through it, thanks be to God.

I had another good talk to a different work colleague on Friday about stress, depression, anxiety…among other, happier, topics. As someone I not only greatly respect as an intelligent man, but also one of most humble, joyous and personable people one could ever be blessed to cross paths with, the ability to converse and seek opinion was particularly special. God is indeed gracious: I have been blessed with not only wonderful family and friends, but colleagues too. I may get stressed and frustrated at times, and last week was a tough week indeed where I was pondering my future, but the colleagues I have, together with my role, make it the place for me to be now — and probably for some time. Thanks and praise be to God.

Filed under: Anxiety, Depression, Holidays, Work on June 15th, 2009 | 1 Comment »

Troparion - Tone 4:
As with fine porphyry and royal purple,
Your church has been adorned with Your martyrs’ blood shed throughout all the world.
She cries to You, O Christ God:
Send down Your bounties on Your people,
Grant peace to Your habitation, and great mercy to our souls!

Kontakion - Tone 8:
The universe offers You the God-bearing martyrs,
As the first fruits of creation, O Lord and Creator.
Through the Theotokos, and their prayers establish Your Church in peace!

A blessed Feast of the Synaxis of All Saints! Last week, we ‘in the East’ were a week ‘behind’ in Pentecost compared to ‘the West’; now we are several months ‘ahead’!, the Western Liturgical chuches commemorating All Saints on November 1.

A joyous Feast, as while we all have our ‘favourite’ Saints, and may remember them especially on their Feast Day/s, to remember them all, and in particular to give thanks for those Saints known only to God Himself, is a wondrous thing: God is truly wonderful in His Saints! As we chanted [well, as I was there and was asked to assist, I read: didn't want any cats wailing ] at Matins this morning, among many wonderful hymns [I need to buy myself copies of the books that contain the hymns for each Feast Day -- though there are quite a few so it may be a lifelong goal!]:

As a duty let us crown with songs of praise the Forerunner, with the Apostles, Prophets, Martyrs, Bishops, righteous ones, ascetics, martyred Priests, and God-loving women, with all the God-fearing, and the myriad of angels, beseeching, through their petitions, that we may attain by their glory, glory from the presence of Christ the Saviour.

…

Let us extol with divine songs of praise the assembly of the Apostles, Prophets, righteous ones, teachers, and Martyrs among Priests, yea, all the God-fearing, and the ranks of holy women who strove and eagerly lived the ascetic life, and the myriads of holy ones; for they have become inheritors of the kingdom on high, and dwellers in paradise.

And, as Archimandrite Justin Popovich (+1979) wrote [thanks to Father for quotes on the Saints from him, Elder Joseph the Hesychast (+1959) and St Athanasius (+373) ]:

The godbearing Saints are the light of the world, the luminaries of the world, for this reason the darkness of sin cannot overcome them. They are not, however, light in and of themselves, but on account of Christ who is in them. They are only the faithful possessors and bearers of the light of Christ.

May I indeeed be a faithful possessor and bearer of the light of Christ: a hard calling, but what a joy and most gracious gift to be blessed with possessing and bearing the light of Christ!

Today was also my last Divine Liturgy before I head off to Istanbul and Georgia; it was a joy to receive Communion particularly on this Feast of All Saints, but also for strength and sustenance not only in my daily life but as I prepare for what I hope, amid the fun and sightseeing, will be a touching and moving spiritual experience also in the churches and monasteries of Georgia. Father prayed for safe travel for me after Liturgy, and I know I am blessed to have the love, thoughts and prayers of many in my parish. Thanks and praise be to God.

Filed under: Feast Days, Hymns, Spiritual Writings on June 14th, 2009 | 5 Comments »

Well, I was last night. Braving the cool temperatures of the Highlands [Moss Vale is near enough to give some idea: my car had a temperature of one degree higher], I headed down last night to see The Wizard of Oz put on by the Southern Highlands Youth Art Council. An operator in the Call Centre for the company I work for is the director and choreographer, so a few of us are heading down at different times. I was planning to go with my fellow IT colleague, but he was rather unwell this week so he could not make it. So I headed down myself.

What a performance! What a marvellous performance! Words cannot express how it surpassed, by miles, my expectations. I do not know why: everytime I go to an ‘amateur’ production I am blown away; the heart and soul put into the performances, and the often more relaxed atmosphere, allows for a rollicking good time. All of the cast were superb, and I would hate to highlight any as unless I could list them all someone would miss out. They each had their own take: a wonderfully wicked Witch of the West relishing her role and laugh; Dorothy with a superb voice and such animated expressions; a rather camp Tin Man; and on they went — each stamping their style on their character. And then you had the wide ages of the cast, ranging from 8 to 25: the little-ones in particular as munchkins or residents of Oz were just too cute. The choreography of the dancing, and even the movement of the cast, was simply fantastic — all praise to the choreograher and director: I’ll be sure to tell him when he returns to work [he has holidays while this is on, and some well-deserved rest time afterwards]. In addition, the deleted ‘Jitterbug’ scene was also included, which was simply wonderful to see and hear. The orchestra [conducted by someone I have met before through work training days: and, no, not musically related training! :)] not only played the music wonderfully and with gusto, but stamped their own creative style on the songs — making it a unique and special performance.

As well as to the director and choreographer, music director, dance coaches, sound and audio operators, caterers, and backstage and front of house helpers, praise must go to Coty & Andrew Farquhar who designed the superb sets and even more superb costumes — take a look at Coty’s blog entries on “The Wizard of Oz” to see the wonderful work done. Truly amazing and simply wondrous.

Well done to all involved: words and descriptions could not adequately describe the wonder and joy of this performance. If you are free next weekend and can make it to Mittagong, go — you will not be disappointed.

Thanks also to Miss Lisa who, with family involvement, recommended various restaurants for me and my colleague to go to. I went solo, but still treated myself to dinner [sadly a bit rushed as I left work late] at Eschalot at Berrima [10 mins out of Mittagong]. I had the roast riverina lamb rump, cannellini beans, confit garlic & rosemary jus roti, with pommes frittes [a huge serving] — and could not have been more content. A superb meal: the lamb rump was so tender, and so juicy: and the pommes frittes crunchy and tasty. I was given a complimentary small serve of artichoke soup which also pleased the palate, as did the local Rosé. I shall have to get back and have a more leisurely meal — and dessert!

Filed under: Food, Theatre on June 13th, 2009 | 2 Comments »

What is bliss except ordering Alain de Botton’s The Architecture of Happiness and Phil Plait’s Death from the Skies!: These Are the Ways the World Will End… from amazon.co.uk on a Thursday night here, and finding them delivered to the opposite side of the world Wednesday morning at work?

Perhaps knowing tomorrow I will receive St Athanasius‘ On the Incarnation [I loaned mine to some forgotten person: as long as they are enjoying it I do not mind!] and Archimandrite Sophrony’s His Life is Mine from Crossroad Books?

Never mind the fact I am reading 4 books currently, and have 2 more unread books waiting. Too many books is never enough!

Filed under: Reading, The Internet on June 10th, 2009 | 7 Comments »

As someone who loves memes, it was a surprise to see the search “ian needs” [hello Pawtucket USA -- needed to Google Maps that location!] on my stats: some poor Ian in the US, in an attempt to fill that meme where you Google your name followed by ‘needs’, got my blog. And, in a strange twist, he got the blog entry where I did the meme.

The Internet is a strange and wonderful place.

Filed under: Just For Fun on June 9th, 2009 | 5 Comments »

How do you know when it is time to make a change?

Is there any such thing as a “good time” to make a change?

Is there a point where enough is simply enough?

Should mental health and [often irrational] fears play a part? Or should it be logical?

What about the future? Or am I too concerned for tomorrow and should trust it to God?

Will a change really be a change, or just a move into more of the same? And what if I have no idea where I want to change to?

What if I do not, and cannot, due to where I find myself, have the full picture? Is it right to make a decision as through a mirror dimly?

And what on earth am I here for anyway? I suppose the journey gives the answers as much as it raises questions.

“Lord, I believe. Help my unbelief.” And Lord, have mercy.

Filed under: Life on June 9th, 2009 | 6 Comments »