Suffering and Beauty

Sometimes we are overcome by suffering. It is inevitable in a fallen world. The demons rejoice and we bleed tears. But sometimes things backfire for them. I'm certain things would be different if Christ had not "trampled down death by (His) death". Without that event, all would be futile and cosmically frustrating.

This is on my mind this morning because as I drove into work I listened to a CD that my brother sent yesterday. It is called Fun With Sound and is the latest creative outlet of my brother Mark Harmon and Mike Roe. Because Mark and Mike are such close friends of mine, I am intimately aware of some of the particular sufferings that are distilled on this CD. It is some of the most beautiful, mature, subtle, artful, soulful, work I've ever heard - both sonically and lyrically. I recommend it with all my heart.

And to Mike and Mark. . .congratulations. But please guard your hearts. You've made some enemies in Hades with this CD. From one refugee to another, both of you could use the protection offered in the Ark of the Holy Orthodox Church.

P.S. That last statement may sound a bit uppity. . .but it is really just my way of saying that "all the components" are present in the Orthodox Church to provide substantial healing and protection. Of course, nothing is automatic. Any given parish may be so screwed up that you would hardly recognize the components. . .but the nice thing I've discovered about Orthodoxy is that when a parish makes even a paltry attempt to be true to what it has been given (that's the key - nothing has to be "invented"). .it is therapy par excellence.