The Mother of God Willed It

That is what he kept saying, "the Mother of God willed it." It was not the way we planned it. It was not the way any of us envisioned it. But it was the way the Mother of God willed it.

The monks accompanying the icon assured us it was the first time the Akathist to the Kursk Root Icon had been prayed in an Embassy Suites hotel. I can only imagine what was going through the mind of the family that happened to be on the elevator with them, no concept of the glorious miracle of riding an elevator with the icon that has survived over 700 years of attempts to destroy it.

It can be nothing less than a miracle that these men were able to travel 15 hours through horrendous storms, sleet and ice to arrive in our city at 1:30 am. It was Her hand that guided them as they said the prayers of the Akathist while they drove, even as they passed hundreds of accidents on their journey. It was Her hand that guided hundreds of us along roads and interstates this morning, roads that were nothing but solid ice.

All the beautiful food laid out at the church, the flowers and candles prepared, the place made ready to welcome Her, the roads impassable. No, it was not the way we planned it, as we all packed into a tiny conference room, the only room in the inn.

No candles were here, no iconostasis, no beautiful temple to welcome her. Just a small, very hot room in the inn. The soft flicker of candles replaced by the harsh flicker of fluorescent lighting. A makeshift cloth for the stand, a scarf taken from a parishioner.

Greek, Russian, Antiochian, we were all here together, all Orthodox together.

Why we all were so blessed, I do not know. So, no, it was not the way we planned it.

But it WAS, and it was just as the Mother of God willed it.

prayers please

Late tonight the Wonderworking Kursk Root Icon is making its way to our parish. At the same time our small southern town is bracing for a forecast which includes freezing rain, sleet and snow. Our parish is out in the country with access only from a single winding road full of hills and 90 degree curves. If ever I hoped that weathermen were incompetent, it would be now. Please pray for the safety of the monks travelling with the icon, and I selfishly ask for prayers that the icon makes it to our city and does not have to change routes. Many in our parish could use the blessing of healing which Christ has sometimes provided through this veneration of his Mother.

ht to Fr. Stephen Freeman for the image of the icon in this post

Update: Letters of Grace expected launch

Mary, Emily and I have been working through the Letters of Grace curriculum over the past few weeks, while still continuing to write. After many questions from readers and discussion between us, we are excited to let you know we hope to launch the Letters of Grace website during Bright Week. This will allow us to be far ahead in the planning, testing and writing, but also give those of you who are interested the chance to begin using it. We look forward to sharing all of our work, and I have to tell you, as each piece comes together, it is very exciting to see! We ask for your prayers, and will continue to post photo updates of our journeys at home, and look forward to launching the website in April! Also, look for another book give-away the second week of February over at evlogia.

Bb week - banana bread

Aa week - Apple Art

Aa Week - Apple Pie

January Give Away

Another great give-away! Be sure to go leave a comment at Mary's blog to be entered for the January giveaway for Letters of Grace. This month you can win a set of BOB books to use in teaching your little ones to read.