Providence

[guest]

What is the Orthodox view on abandonment to Divine Providence?

[Father David Moser]

Divine Providence is not fate. God does not control every event of our lives. God does, however, provide for us all that is necessary for our salvation.

Divine providence is not about controling what happens to us, but rather it is the fact that in every event of our lives an opportunity is provided whereby that event can be used to acquire the grace of the Holy Spirit (see St Seraphim of Sarov's conversation with N.A. Motovilov on the Acquisition of the Holy Spirit). Divine Providence is not about what happens to us, but rather how we respond to the events of our lives. It is Divine Providence that always gives us an avenue of response that is Godly, that brings us closer to God, that fills us with divine grace.

The Optina Elders often speak about the necessity of accepting everything in our lives without complaining and with thanksgiving to God. This is true, however, it is also necessary to realize that this instruction is about "resigning to fate" but rather finding in each event the path of salvation and joyfully following that path rather than wasting time bemoaning our personal misfortune (or wasting time indulging our pride, love of pleasure and passions when we are "fortunate").

So "abandonment to Divine Providence" is not about fate - but rather about seeking and finding the salvific and grace bearing elements in the events of our lives and pursuing that rather than getting lost in the cares of the world.

Apr David Moser

[guest]

Thank you Father David. I've been reading Abandonment to Divine Providence by Jean-Pierre De Caussade. Your Orthodox perspective is most enlightening.

"see St Seraphim of Sarov's conversation with N.A. Motovilov on the Acquisition of the Holy Spirit" Can you direct me to somewhere on-line where I can find your recommendation re St. Seraphim. I find myself very much drawn to this topic.

Thank you again.

[Antonios]

Though not totally applicable, happened upon this article 2 minutes after reading the above posts. (fate?)

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Some evacuees see religious message in Katrina


By Adam Tanner

HOUSTON (Reuters) - In the last week, Joseph Brant lost his apartment, walked by scores of dead in the streets, traversed pools of toxic water and endured an arduous journey to escape the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in his hometown New Orleans.

On Sunday, he was praising the Lord, saying the ordeal was a test that ended up dispelling his lifelong distrust of white people and setting his life on a new course. He said he hitched a ride on Friday in a van driven by a group of white folks.

"Before this whole thing I had a complex about white people; this thing changed me forever," said Brant, 36, a truck driver who, like many of the refugees receiving public assistance in Houston, Texas, is black.

"It was a spiritual experience for me, man," he said of the aftermath of a catastrophe al Qaeda-linked Web sites called evidence of the "wrath of God" striking an arrogant America.

Brant was one of many refugees across Texas, Louisiana and Mississippi who gave thought to religion on Sunday, almost a week after the floods changed their lives, perhaps forever.

At the Astrodome in Houston, where 16,000 refugees received food and shelter, Rose McNeely took the floods as a sign from God to move away from New Orleans, where she said her two grown children had been killed in past years in gunfights.

"I lost everything I had in New Orleans," she said. "He brought me here because he knows."

Nearby, others looked for a different kind of higher ground and smoked marijuana in the shade outside the Astrodome.

Inside, Gerald Greenwood, 55, had collected a free Bible but sat watching a science fiction television program above the stands in an enclosed stadium once home to Houston's baseball and football teams. "This is the work of Satan right here," he said of the floods.

The Bible was one of the few books many of the refugees had among their possessions. Several Jehovah's Witnesses walked around thousands of cots to offer their services.

THE WAGES OF SIN

The Salvation Army conducted an outside religious service that included songs such as "What a Friend We Have in Jesus."

"Natural disaster is caused by the sin in the world," said Maj. John Jones, the group's area commander. "The acts of God are what happens afterwards ... all the good that happens."

Others took a different view, including Tim Washington, 42, who on Saturday waited at the New Orleans' Superdome to be evacuated. "God made all this happen for a reason. This city has been going to hell in a handbasket spiritually," he said.

"If we can spend billions of dollars chasing after (Osama) bin Laden, can't we get guns and drugs off the street?," he asked. Washington said he stole a boat last Monday and he and a friend, using wooden fence posts as oars, delivered about 200 people to shelter.

The Salvation Army's Jones was one of many trying to comfort victims in Sunday services across several states.

At St. Aloysius Catholic Church in Baton Rouge, several hundred local parishioners and storm survivors attended Sunday services. "I wish we could take your broken hearts and give you ours," Rev. Donald Blanchard told the gathering.

Some people walked out of the church in tears mid-service.

At St. Francis Xavier Church, a black Catholic Church in Baton Rouge, the mood was a mix of frustration, bitterness and profound joy. As evacuees stood one by one to introduce themselves, parishioners clapped and cried, celebrating their guests' good fortune in simply being alive.

"For those who were alone in the water, alone on the roof, you might ask 'What did we do to deserve this?"' the Rev. Lowell Case said. "A lot of us think being black may have had something to do with it, being poor and black in New Orleans."

Churches in many states have taken in evacuees and organized aid for people who in many cases had lost everything. But at least some bristled at the role of religion in helping the afflicted.

"We're getting reports of how some religion-based 'aid' groups are trying to fly evangelists into the stricken areas and how U.S. Army chaplains are carrying bibles -- not food or water -- to 'comfort' people," Ellen Johnson, president of American Atheist, said in a statement.

"People need material aid, medical care and economic support -- not prayers and preaching."

[nurse-aid]

The Will which mighter then whole world!
Who can say NO to You, our Lord!
And asking why...or curse whole world..
Will not change things...HIS choosen word!
And if He chooses, He knows Why...
Our job to learn and help those who's still alive!
By what He granted, by our will, by who can do their best to do His Will!
And even name, by which that pain is came...
He chooses too, lets trust His Word,
lets humble to His will, obey and pray!

[Leandros Papadopoulos]

"see St Seraphim of Sarov's conversation with N.A. Motovilov on the Acquisition of the Holy Spirit". Can you direct me to somewhere on-line where I can find your recommendation re St. Seraphim. I find myself very much drawn to this topic.

St. Seraphim of Sarov's Conversation With Nicholas Motovilov:

http://www.orthodoxinfo.com/praxis/wonderful.aspx

[Guest]

Thank you Leandros, thank you. This too adds much to my understanding.