Resetting Your "Normal"
A Normal Orthodox Christian defines "normal" in a maximalistic way, not an excuse making way!
Christ is risen!
American author and humorist Patsy Clairmont famously said, “Normal is just a setting on your dryer.” She hoped to communicate that our idea of “normal” is often unreachable and a source of shame in our lives.
This insight is very much correct. Because we don’t scrutinize our definition of “normal,” we often miss the opportunity to deal with reality.
But that doesn’t mean there is no true definition of “normal.”
One of the aspects of Orthodox Christianity that drew me to the Faith so many years ago was the revelation that I was spending most of my life avoiding reality. I had never explored or even questioned my perspectives. Because of this weakness, I was often gripped by false notions of a “normal” life. I was enslaved to a wrong perspective about what a normal life really was!
But how do I define “reality?” What is “normal?” The Church answers this question in a very peculiar and challenging way. The Church insists that “Normal” is a Person, not a set of expectations or disembodied ideals! Jesus is Normal!
Look at our lesson today in Acts 12:12-17
IN THOSE DAYS, Peter went to the house of Mary, the mother of John whose other name was Mark, where many were gathered together and were praying. And when he knocked at the door of the gateway, a maid named Rhoda came to answer. Recognizing Peter’s voice, in her joy she did not open the gate but ran and told that Peter was standing at the gate. They said to her, “You are mad.” But she insisted that it was so. They said, “It is his angel!” But Peter continued knocking; and when they opened, they saw him and were amazed. But motioning to them with his hand to be silent, he described to them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he said, “Tell this to James and to the brethren.” Then he departed and went to another place.
This is one of my favorite scenes in the Book of Acts. The authorities had arrested St. Peter for spreading the News of the Resurrection, but an angel came in the night and released him from jail. Read the whole chapter if you get the chance.
Suffice it to say, this event happened just as Herod was looking to kill St. James, the first bishop of Jerusalem, and the faithful thought St. Peter was next.
So, they were in constant prayer for him. The Lord answered their prayers, and St. Peter went to Mary’s house, where all the faithful prayed for him. Notice what happens next.
Rhoda hears Peter’s voice at the gate, but (I love this), “in her joy,” she doesn’t let him in but runs and tells the other believers. They, in turn, out of their doubt, don’t believe her. But then some of the more “spiritual” among the group (you know who you are) say that perhaps it’s Peter’s guardian angel.
Amazing. They were praying for the very thing they already had, but for some, joy didn’t allow them to believe it or act on it, and others didn’t believe it possible. Still, others wanted to make it all about some cosmic spiritual experience.
But Peter kept knocking! And when they finally opened the gate, he had to tell them to be quiet so as not to give away where they all were!
What a powerful picture for you and me today of how to live a life of faith! These people praying for Peter will get an invitation from the Holy Spirit to change their idea of normal life when you add the reality of nothing being impossible with God!
First, when you pray, don’t be shocked when the answer comes. Of course, it did. Don’t allow joy or doubt or even some easy explanation to dismiss the incredible grace God has given you. No, open the “gate” of your heart and allow the joy to be sober, the doubt to be quieted, and the all too easy explanation to be made mute in the face of the real thing!
Then, be quiet! The gift of God, the answered prayer, is yours. Let the fruit of that incredible moment mature you and fill you with a calm confidence that protects your heart from spiritual pride or self-righteousness. And then don’t be surprised when you’re told to move on!
Let God set your idea of what a normal life is supposed to be!
St. Patrick, the hieromartyr, was the Bishop of Prusa. Sometime in the latter part of the 3rd century, he was brought before the Roman Consul of the area, a certain Julius, who desired to persuade Patrick to abandon Christ and worship the gods Julius worshipped. The area had some hot springs, which significantly benefited the community. Julius insisted that the pagan gods should be thanked for the hot springs and insisted that Patrick offer thanks to them. Patrick responded that it was Christ Who should be thanked for the springs because He is the creator of both fire and water, so Jesus was the One to be worshipped for providing the springs to the people. And he told Julius that there was another fire that awaited those who stubbornly refused to worship Christ. On hearing this, Julius had Patrick cast into the hot springs to kill him, but the heat killed the soldiers taking Patrick, and Patrick was unharmed. Then, Julius had Patrick beheaded along with several other Christian priests.
Today, the purposeful Orthodox Christian life makes “normal” the real and active presence of God in our lives. Normal Orthodox life has intimate and real examples of God’s love and His actions. We are not to be intoxicated by these normal events. We are to be strengthened and made more peaceful and bold in living Orthodox on Purpose!
P.S. Since the Church has your body as a sacred gem of Jesus Christ, she now rejoices, O blessed Patrick, and with joy, she cries unto you: Through your prayers, O wise Father, all the world is preserved in peace and tranquillity, and it is kept unharmed and unconquered by any heresy.
Fr. Barnabas Powell is the parish priest at Sts. Raphael, Nicholas, and Irene Greek Orthodox Church in Cumming, GA. He is also the founder of Faith Encouraged Ministries and produces the Faith Encouraged Daily Devotional on Substack. Watch the Faith Encouraged YouTube Channel here - https://www.youtube.com/@FaithEncouraged
Have you heard our new Bible Study podcast?
Click the link and take a listen - https://frbarnabaspowell.substack.com/podcast
Every monthly subscriber gets this Bible Study weekly as a subscription benefit!