Communicating from the heart

“As Orthodox Christians, what‘s the first thing we do when we get in the car?” asked Fr. John Oliver on our July episode of the FWL Podcast. The answer? Buckle your seatbelt and make the sign of the cross, of course. The point being, we should invite Christ into everything - our commutes and errands, our work and rest, our fears and confusion, our doubts and darkness, our joy and laughter, and our every interaction with one another. 

I have always been a careful crafter of words, hoping my painstakingly written and re-written drafts of blog posts, email messages, retreat outlines, text messages, and practice scripts for challenging conversations will communicate the perfect thing in the perfect way. I feel like I need just the right phrasing to comfort the suffering, open minds, or foster mutual understanding. I’ve had literal nightmares of being thrust into a public speaking situation completely unprepared. Oh my heart, I feel sweaty just thinking about it! 

But, well-intentioned as they are, perhaps my efforts have been somewhat misplaced. What if it's not our words God uses to communicate His mercy, love and truth, but rather our hearts? Have I prioritized seeking first the Kingdom of God and emptying myself of my own sense of self-sufficiency? Do I turn to the Holy Spirit continuously, leaning not on my own strength and limited understanding? Am I listening and praying for discernment before speaking, or typing, or responding? 

I’ve been reflecting quite a bit on these questions after our interview with Fr. John. This month’s episode made a big impact on me. We pray you, too, will find it enlightening and inspiring! Click HERE to listen!

As promised in that episode, I am also including a link to Cynthia’s handy pdf for creating a travel remedy kit! As someone who loves to be prepared on the road with healthy snacks and plenty of books, this travel kit is right up my alley! Click HERE to access her guide and discover new resources for treating nausea, headaches, viruses, cuts and scrapes, and more! 

Let us set our intentions this week to pursue Christ's peace so we can communicate that peace to others through our patience, mercy, inner calm, and attentiveness!

"There is nothing better than peace in Christ, for it brings victory over all the evil spirits on earth and in the air. When peace dwells in a man's heart it enables him to contemplate the grace of the Holy Spirit from within. He who dwells in peace collects spiritual gifts as it were with a scoop, and he sheds the light of knowledge on others. All our thoughts, all our desires, all our efforts, and all our actions should make us say constantly with the Church: "O Lord, give us peace!" When a man lives in peace, God reveals mysteries to him.."

- St. Seraphim of Sarov