For Awkwardness Around the Holidays

[JamesR]

Well, it's that time of year again. Whenever there is a big holiday, my family usually all comes together to celebrate, and oftentimes, this becomes very awkward for me. The reason being that no one in my family--especially the old folks--has any understanding of the rudeness of speaking about religion or politics at the table, and thus, will hammer me with rude questions about my Orthodoxy, since I am the only one, and thus cause tension--and that tension usually leads to me losing my temper and rhetorically insulting their own beliefs.

Pray that I'll get through this awkward situation that arises every holiday.

[Shanghaiski]

God be with you and deliver you from insanity.

If you should a conversation topic: http://orthodoxwiki.org/Paul_(de_Ballester-Convallier)_of_Nazianzus (He was a Catalonian convert to Orthodoxy who became a bishop in Mexico and was murdered after Liturgy in Mexico City in 1984.

He also wrote an interesting essay: "Why I Abandoned Papism" http://www.thevoiceoforthodoxy.com/current/articles/Why_I_abandoned_Papism.html.

Of course discussing Bishop Paul and his conversion story and essay may not help you endure family gatherings with your sanity entact, and it may not make them speechless as fish. So, there's always the best course--silence and prayer. And chew slowly.

[Maximum Bob]

Lord have mercy on James and his family.

[Anastasia1]

Lord have mercy on James and his family.

Lord, have mercy.

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