“This church is different!” Fine, but why? Because everyone there is young and hip? Because everyone is Reformed? Because all the parents keep their kids out of public schools? Because the music is good and loud and original? Because there are icons and candles and an ancient liturgy to connect us to the historical church? [...]

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One could think of “suffering” as the experience of pain without hope. Such pain is hard (impossible?) to bear. However, with hope, the experience of pain becomes endurance—waiting it out, holding fast. If one has a reason to endure the pain (whatever it is), then perhaps the pain itself becomes more bearable.
Lack of control seems [...]

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