Experiences of Love
July 24, 1998
W. Stoertz, Moscow
Today's experience with the Russian Orthodox priests was
as follows: As I left our Headquarters office on the way to the
doctor, and started to pass out the leaflets, just about the first
person I met was a priest of the Russian Orthodox Church, all
in black robes, with a young lady in a secretary's dress beside
him. This time, again, I presented him the leaflet with "True
Family Pledge" as an offering. Instead of taking it, however, he
stood looking at it, and for an interminable moment, there the
two of us stood, face to face... and then he wouldn't take it. I
offered it to the young lady as a lame gesture, but it was
already a foregone conclusion... I think in his mind as in my
mind, there the two of us stand, frozen in that posture for
eternity, facing each other...
Then, interestingly, as I just came home, about two hours
later, coming off the Metro in Kropotkinskaya Station, I saw
another priest standing with a wooden donation box. As I
approached him, I felt a desire to give him the best thing I had.
But I had no more Blessing leaflets -- they were all given out.
Then I felt deep regret, and as I saw his face, I saw disappoint-
ment in his face too. Just beyond the pillar, I stopped, reached
into my bag, and pulled out a five-ruble coin (worth about a
dollar), and put it into his box. Interestingly, at that moment
he had just decided to give up standing there and was walking
away, toward me, and so once again I saw the vague dis-
appointment in his face, as if it was a spiritual feeling that he
couldn't define or put his finger on. I felt that my donation
hardly helped, but with it I expressed my heart of wishing to
give him something much more precious.
So I felt that, secretly or invisibly, the priests are now
having a contest amongst them to see who can receive this
forbidden Blessing, which they have vague inklings or rumors
about now... There is a mysterious spiritual feeling, that we,
who are dressed in normal civilian attire, are bearing something
so vastly precious and sought-for, like the Holy Grail, or the
blood of Christ. How can they get it? In the age-old tradition,
not through the hierarchy, the bishops and archimandrites,
but through some unknown and mysterious beggar with a
twinkle in his or her eye who moves like the wind or a will-of-
the-wisp... What can they do to be blessed in such a way?
So they go out to do their fundraising, but with such a hope...
And so, that's why he was somehow disappointed, for some
reason he could not clearly tell why...
And so I repentfully resolved to carry always with me at
least one extra Blessing leaflet, just in case such a heavenly
emergency should arise...
With that repentance and determination, as I exited the
Metro, then, coming out onto the plaza before the Cathedral
of Christ the Savior, what should I see on the ground before
me but my own opportunity of redemption! A smashed bottle
of foul-smelling vodka, with jagged pieces jutting upward to
catch a pretty woman's nylon-stockinged feet. All the people
passed by on the other side, as such is a common site on
Moscow streets, and it's "Watch out for yourself." So I
pounced on the jagged glass shards like an eagle, and
ferried them over to the trash receptacle in two trips, wiping
my smelly hands on my pants. Then I felt redeemed, and
something like the Holy Spirit descended.
Always carry an extra Blessing for some unseen occasion.
William Stoertz, ITN
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