Spirituality

Clay cup and bowls created by Father Theophan. Photo by Father Theophan

By Father Theophan
Saint Job of Pochaiv Orthodox Church
Los Alamos

Clay is a humble material. It can be found naturally almost anywhere there is running water. It’s not all useful right out of the ground, but most of it can be useful with a little care and some additives.

I used to defend myself and my medium, “Clay is not dirt!”

But to be fair, although not topsoil nor organic, it isn’t very different from sand. Particle size and shape are the defining factors. Clay is much finer than sand. When dried and powdered, it feels like talcum Read More

By Fr. Glenn Jones:

Have you ever wondered why supermarket celebrity “gossip rags” are so popular? And nowadays, so many even of news websites pepper their pages with those types of articles and teasers so that people will click links and thus increase advertising rates and revenue for site originators. You know the ones—this or that adulterous scandal … some starlet “sizzling” in a bikini or other scanty clothing, etc.

But a very curious thing are the well-publicized tantrums that rich and famous have when things don’t go exactly their way. You’d think that in their apparently-privileged lives Read More

By Fr. Glenn Jones:

Harry Potter fans will likely remember—not too fondly—Dudley, Harry’s spoiled cousin whose taunting Harry was forced to endure. And yet …  Dudley’s obnoxious entitled attitude is not so uncommon these days.

For instance, it’s not infrequent that people come to priests and ministers with the same plaint directed at Jesus: “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the family inheritance with me.” (Luke 12:13) Sorry, dude (my phrase; not Jesus’); if that other person isn’t doing right, his conscience is not going to be suddenly shocked into doing so. Anyway … how do I know that you’re Read More