Since I posted previously about this topic, I've received not a hint of solidarity from any Orthodox Christians I know (save two friends I directly sought out feedback from), despite my site analytics telling me the post did at least make some minor rounds. The awkward silence can possibly be attributed to the fact that a majority of my Orthodox acquaintances, if not scandalized by the prospect of multiple Communion spoons, are more likely to remain quiet about the subject than to join the debate or "take sides". But the silence is thick in my corner of American Orthodoxy nevertheless, and makes one feel isolated. I also hate to think of my own venturing of comments on this topic as an act of "taking sides", per se, rather than a positive instructive impulse in response to friends who are encountering a spiritual stumbling block. Indeed, the thrust of my aforementioned post was nothing more than to say, "This isn't the stumbling block you thought it was. We're ok. You're ok. Breathe a little. Maybe get off the internet and quit listening to that pet podcast."

To the imaginary people who follow this blog, I have an announcement: more content is coming. Yesterday evening, I deleted my Facebook. Not just deactivated, but actually deleted. I'd been battling through a years-long love/hate relationship with the platform for a host of reasons, but the collision of a pandemic, nationwide race riots, and a presidential re-election campaign heightened the multidimensional awfulness of Facebook to a degree that the decision to finally and permanently leave the place became quite easy. I expect to fill the increased free time at least partially with more reading and writing than I've devoted energy to in the past, so it's likely I'll be publishing here more frequently in the months to come.

When I was received into the Orthodox Church in 2015, my godfather half-jokingly told me that I was now prohibited from speaking about the faith for seven years. The stereotype behind the joke is that converts to Orthodoxy--especially Evangelical converts--often tend to become insufferable know-it-alls to their new, "cradle" Orthodox brethren. In that spirit, I have dutifully refrained from publicly voicing my thoughts and opinions on various hot topics within the Church, partly out of respect for my cradle brothers and sisters, but also as an exercise in humility. After all, the very fact of my decision to become Orthodox speaks to a reality that should mark all of our behavior, our thoughts, and our words as regards matters internal to our lives in the Orthodox Church: there is always much to learn. But having offered this disclaimer, it also needs stating that silence isn't a virtue unto itself. Oftentimes we must learn by speaking. In doing so, we can open ourselves to needed correction and so continue our journey of spiritual learning. Alternately, we can bless others with a different perspective, and God willing, to their edification. I pray that what follows does not run afoul of that goal, and I invite any clergy to rein me in if my observations miss the mark.