Church’s view: seize the moment
Our life is a constant fixation of the "here and now" state. Every moment is unique and impossible to live twice. That is why the past is left behind forever, even as good and precious, but all the same memories.
In its turn, the future is like a race in a fast lane. At some point, we chase and overtake the car that was in front of us. However, the feeling of victory after a while gives way to the realization that on the horizon another car is visible. Again, we start chasing the leader. And it happens again and again.
The future is about waiting and anticipation of something meaningful. However, this is just a feeling, not a reality that we see with our own eyes and in which we act immediately.
It is worth remembering that only in the present we can change something or improve. After all, the past is behind and the future hasn’t come yet. In fact, we have no control over them, unlike the present, where we are able to change the course of our lives at any time.
You just need to "seize the moment". This principle is very vividly described in the movie "Dead Poets Society," in which the teacher encourages his students not to lose time in vain, to maximize their talents and direct all their energy on the implementation of the most cherished dreams.
Emperor Titus, loved by the people of Rome, followed the same rule. According to Suetonius, Titus considered Caesar’s duty not to let anyone go away sad. One day at lunch, remembering that he hadn’t done any good deed yet, Titus said: "I’ve lost a day!"
Such an attitude to the present should be an example for all of us. After all, the world is full of troubles, sorrows and sufferings. From the side it looks like a big iceberg that can kill with cold all living in the neighborhood. However, each of us is able to reduce the area of the cold effect – we just need to live every day not only for ourselves but also for others.
To give blood for sick children, to buy expensive medicine for pensioners, to help an elderly woman with heavy bags, just to say an encouraging word to someone who is in despair and sorrow – all these are the rays of goodness and love, which are so necessary to melt the ice of evil mountain and hopelessness.
Such a lifestyle is intended to each of us. It is even our duty. The duty, which warms the heart and brings a real joy, because the Lord clearly said: "You are the light of the world. So let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven "(Matt. 5, 14-19).
Read also
Naughty Orthobros and Nice Ecumenists
Why are traditional "Orthobros" perpetually branded as naughty, while their progressive and ecumenist critics get a free pass to the nice list—no matter how harshly they condemn their brethren?
The Uniate's Dilemma
A Uniate priest praises Catholicism’s supposed “unity in diversity” as proven by the Eastern Catholic churches. Yet Rome itself has formally repudiated Uniatism as a violent, politically-driven mistake that deepened the schism and can no longer serve as a model—leaving Catholic claims of universality without historical or institutional backing.
The Rush to Embrace
The Iznik “reunion” prayer event was more of a staged media spectacle than historic breakthrough. Pretending ancient dogmatic differences (Filioque, Chalcedon, etc.) are mere semantics undermines the binding authority of Ecumenical Councils and turns the Church into High-Church Protestantism. True unity must be built slowly on agreement in faith, not rushed by abandoning the Councils, saints, and martyrs who defined it—or we open Pandora’s box of relativism.
Elpidophoros vs. the Archons
Rumors of civil war in the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese erupted when influential Archons led by Fr. Alexander Karloutsos issued a bizarre statement accusing a pan-Orthodox delegation of Russian espionage and inverting Ukrainian church persecutions — apparently without Abp. Elpidophoros's approval. This speaks to a deeper problem within GOARCH: the unchecked power of its donors over the clergy.
Rep. Joe Wilson Declares War on the Orthodox Church
Rep. Joe Wilson smeared American Orthodox Christians as Russian spies for lobbying against Ukraine’s brutal persecution of the canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church. If defending persecuted believers is espionage, America’s First Amendment is the real enemy.