The World is INSANE! What Do I Do? 

I struggle with this. I suspect no other way to bear other than to nearly 'drive me insane'. It is the path to salvation. Often, the spirit of this insanity flows thru me. My sister, my clients, my work environment, people I come in contact with day to day. Don't they see!?? Helps me to not only remember final word will be God's (which can support sense of self righteousness), but more so 'help me to my own transgressions/failings and not to judge my brother'...my heart is the battleground I should concern myself with, I am half guilty for nearly all I judge. Glory to God for the vision to see my own failings...God help me to rise above *in Him* and The Eternal Church, His Body. It is the Christian life being lived out in the struggle of our generation. I am failing often...pray for me.

Start w charity in the home…AND help someone in need ..like he said we have to work on us and “become saints” People are drawn to love and kindness and shy away from toxicity as long as we focus there

And I bought you book, The Lord of Spirits, it's traveled for month. Excellent reading.

Boris, keep the faith and stay the course that god has assigned to you. I also struggle with wanting to not be here anymore and disconnecting with humanity, but I know that is probably not gods plan for me, so I keep asking for his guidance and wisdom. I believe that retracting into a lonely shell, like a cocoon , is good if it’s for spiritual fasting and seeking a closer relationship. Otherwise it might be harmful to your growth towards a closer relationship to god. God made us all, and we need you to be out there helping us on our journey of truth. I will pray for you and if you will pray for me also I would appreciate that.

@debidaniels2201 I will most certainly add you to my permanent prayer list. And remember the words of Fyodor Dostoevsky: "1000 years of meaningful suffering, is greater than 1000 years of meaningless hapiness." Christ suffered unto the end, and allowed us the blessing of faith to carry our crosses and follow him. Some say the Christian walk is for the weak. Far from it. To carry our individual crosses and follow Him, is the ultimate faith. At the end of it all awaits the resurrection and triumph over even death. To many, death is the defining feature of life, as light is to dark, but to Orthodox, life is the defining feature of life, for HE is risen. Revelation 21:23 "And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof."

@Ds74-pmrq A grand apathetic assumption good sir... I am not whining or self pitying. Which is why I asked for prayer, not for pity. We are commanded to pray for one another for things we can change and can overcome by the Holy Spirit. (James 5:17)

Hi Boris 👋 Im an Orthodox catechumen and new Christian since last year, im not an expert on Orthodoxy as I ask God for the building of my faith. I RARELY write yt comments, but I relate to you in that I also struggle to love others as myself. I am very guarded and full of shame and pride as I grew up socially isolated and rejected, with a bully narcissistic dad, and emotionally distant mother. But I want to share that Celebrate Recovery, a Christ-centered recovery ministry (like 12 steps but with the beatitudes and Christ), has helped me so much in softening my heart. Its a safe space to get honest about our pain, to confess our sins to each other and pray for one another. I was blessed with a sponsor who has really given me love, but the community as a whole is loving. No one can look down another because we are all aware we are all sinners (well I guess internally I do sometimes because of my huge pride but I snap out of it). I still have a lot of work to do to become Christ-like for sure, but CR has helped me so much in softening my heart towards others. There are CR locations worldwide. I will pray for ❤🙏

You too? We're not alone! I'll keep you in my prayers, and please keep me, (Anna), in yours. I hope you have a Great Holy Week and Pascha! Keep listening to the services online, and never be afraid to ask your Orthodox Christian brothers and sisters for help. Anna

I struggle with both anxiety and depression where the Church has personally helped me just by the repetition of going to Liturgy. I'm not really "allowed" to do anything else.

@@sundaybest27 I need to talk to my priest about limitations, I had planned on attending Sunday and meeting afterwards, but my 7 year old had surgery last week and my 5 year old is transitioning medications so everything was too hectic. Nothing wrong with limiting yourself, there’s a great deal to be proud of about obedience.

Read a KJ Bible. Talking won't save you. Jesus will.

This is true I think. Under all the thoughts, objections, pain and 'insanity' in reaction to the world is the very path to salvation, unity with Christ.

He says while using a social media platform.

@@mikelandsman8993 Yes I agree, and laugh with you at the irony. 😂 This is the only one that seems to have some utility left.

Why

@@ducky1016 why should we keep it? Is it the most useful tool for why you want to keep it?

@@LadderOfDescent it has some good use yes

I say the same❤God bless love!!

Me too.

I want to laugh but I'm a little afraid to laugh.

Yeah, kinda weird.

Human suffering is not redemptive in itself. We can make it edifying for ourselves if we use it for our repentance, that is, to make us more like Christ. And if suffering comes because of our faithfulness, then that refines us to be even holier.

Thank You Father. You have taken the time to answer my question. Again Thank you.

I know it's not. I wasn't talking only about one event or even the bad things that happen to just one people. It's much more general than that.

Everything happens to us for our repentance. That doesn't mean that it's our fault bad things happen to us. It means we can turn everything to our advantage. Those who perpetrate evil against the innocent will still be held responsible by God, whether in this life or the next.

​@@frandrewstephendamickThank you for fixing a little bit more of my Calvinism!!! It's really hard not to hear it as "You didn't do perfect so God is punishing you so you do better, be grateful". Now I can try flipping this to "I can turn anything to my advantage because God is with me".

@@frandrewstephendamick please, tell me what kind of advantage is there for victims of ped0f!les, for example?... or for victims of serious physical abuse?... or forever emotionally traumatized people?... or people/children/animals used in all sorts of s!ck sacrifice rituals?... or the children who end up in ped0 rings where they get abused beyond any therapy? .... or all the broken people beyond any help who simply live out their days?... there is none. At least, none you can speak of -- and, therefore, a little humility can go a long way: instead of talking like you know why and know what to do about all the real evils of this world, a simpler, humbler, and more honest way to say "I don't know" and simply offer validation and true heartfelt comfort (if there is some in your heart). Otherwise, whatever you've said is just all sorts of condescending gaslighting and victim blaming, that's all it is. Granted, God may be able to turn many things to our good, but it's completely different from suggesting there is inherent "advantage" in every s!ck, perverted, abominable ev!l in this s!ck, ev!l world. What I observe in many of such "preachy" vids is all these church clergy most of whom live essentially sheltered lives, with what in secular terms is "job security" and all; and they truly lose touch with reality, actually forget what it is actually like out there.

@@zzc8505 The advantage is not inherent. It has to be made advantageous through repentance, through bearing up under suffering in a Christlike manner and even loving one's enemies. I am not speaking theoretically here, because we have the examples of many saints, especially martyrs, who received evil done to them by others and became holier people because of it -- including children. These are all real-life examples. As we see in Scripture (Rev. 20:4), the martyrs are the first to be co-enthroned with Christ. And that is because this is the example of Christ Himself, Who is the least blameworthy Person Who ever lived and yet showed how suffering rightly borne can become beneficial -- in His case, for all of us. No one is beyond help. It is essential to Christianity that everyone has the possibility for help from God, and the abused are especially close to that help. As for those who inflict suffering on the innocent, they will be brought down by Christ on the Day of the Lord, while the oppressed will be vindicated and raised up. This is the essential Christian hope and vision for justice for the world. It will not go well with those who did such evils and did not repent.