Introduction

While I was driving east on Interstate 80 one early Monday morning, a novel idea suddenly crossed my mind. I was returning from an Ancient Faith Ministries conference for authors and podcasters, where I had given a talk to more than eighty participants. During the conference I also had the opportunity to speak privately with some of the participants, many of them authors who shared that they were leaving the conference with renewed resolve to write more intentionally. The weekend over, I was happily driving home. The sun shone brightly; there was not a cloud in the sky. The drive was pleasant, and I was trying to be aware of God’s presence. My consciousness flowed seamlessly.

The novel idea that suddenly crossed my mind was that I would never write another book—emphasis on the word never. I was done with that part of my life. Others could write books. I would do other things, like lead retreats, counsel, volunteer on committees, participate in conference calls, and teach at St. Vladimir’s Seminary. But three weeks later, I was still doing

these “other things,” and I had thousands of words in draft form to begin another book—this book. Surprise.

We never know when surprises might happen. The Morning Prayer of Metropolitan Philaret says, “In unforeseen events let me not forget that all are sent by You.” Most events are unforeseen. I don’t know who might phone today, and I don’t know how the rest of my life will unfold. The secret is to try to really trust that all of the surprises—what I call “suddenly” events— are sent by Christ.

About This Book

Though I had made a decision about my priorities moving forward, my wife, Galina, in heaven had other ideas—she wanted to co-author another book with me. As I try to go through the semipermeable membrane of the Kingdom and listen to her, this kind of awareness can make for an exciting adventure. I don’t know what God will send next, but I know that whatever it is, the next “suddenly” will be sent by God out of His tender love for me. And, for me, it will usually be sent through my wife.

As I began writing this little book, it seemed like doing a thousand-piece jigsaw puzzle of Monet’s Water Lilies. Each piece looked the same as all the others, and the pile of pieces looked nothing like the picture on the box. As with the imagined puzzle, the book seemed doable but daunting.

In my early work on this book I went back and reread my two previous books: Can I Make a Difference: Christian Family Life Today, published by Paulist Press in 1990; and Becoming a Healing Presence, published by Ancient Faith Publishing in 2015. A few unexpected discoveries jumped out at me. First, I noticed that Father Thomas Hopko wrote an extended foreword to the first book, and he wrote an extended foreword to the second book. The twenty five-year span between the two books seemed to bookend his partnership with me as well as our friendship. He has been, and from heaven continues to be, a rock throughout the course of my career.

Another discovery I made when looking back at my first two books was that the second is much more personal than the first. The first book seems all right but rather bland—I would not recommend it. Can I Make a Difference: Christian Family Life Today. Intriguing title, but short on substance. My hope has been to make this third book more engaging than the two previous, with more personal narrative.

When I pause to think about the past, I realize that Father Hopko, my wife, and I have been working together for decades. That is more than I can comprehend. I also realize that I am the weak dancing partner in the troika. But the troika has been and is. Lord, have mercy.

It is also clear that “Unless the Lord builds the house, / Those who build it labor in vain” (Ps 126:1). So, too, unless the Lord writes and reads the book, those who write and read

likewise do so in vain. Lastly, unless the Lord lives the life, those who live it live in vain. Let us hope and pray together that we do our best to remain in the Lord’s presence and allow the Lord to move through us.

My hope is not to make this book a display, but a path to healing, in accordance with the words of St. Athanasius of Alexandria: “The Lord did not come to make a display. He came to heal and to teach suffering people.”

I want to thank my professional editor, Julia Wickes, a longtime friend and colleague. Julia finely edited this book with precision and sharpness. Dr. Peter Bouteneff added to Julia’s editing by fine-tuning the draft with exquisite comments. Katherine Hyde at Ancient Faith Publishing did an elegant final edit.

I have done my best not to repeat much, if anything, from my previous book, Becoming a Healing Presence. I have also tried to write conversationally. Therefore, I have tried to write patiently and slowly. I’ll ask you to try to read this little book patiently and slowly.