In the swing of summer at present, and I wish to give a shout out to all the fine institutions that make summer worthwhile for our family. This past weekend, I concluded a conference with the newly created New England Consortium of Classical Educators. It involved two glorious days of scholarly conversation around the theme of the knowability of Truth for the low, low price of only $50. Professors, tutors, and mentors from all walks of life took turns grappling with age-old questions and enjoying delicious meals around a common table. Strikes me as what colleges and universities used to be for until we turned them into educational factories for the mere acquisition of specialized skills. In any event, I kept pinching myself that I paid so little for so much.
Then we were visited on Sunday at our home parish in Boston by the Orthodox bishop of Western Kenya, His Grace Bishop Marcos Theodosi. A visit to a parish by any bishop always brings extra work, spotless cleaning, and an eager expectation of grace since the Bishop is an icon of the Lord Jesus Christ himself. This Bishop Marcos did not disappoint us in the area of bringing extra grace. He was in America to raise money for his diocese in Africa, but it was no hard selling sales pitch that he presented. He was rather just so grateful to visit our parish as the last stop right before he boarded the plane for home. His gratitude and gentleness reminded us of the Good Shepherd who cares very much for his sheep that he lays down his life for them.
At the beginning of this week, we began two Christian summer camps for our younger set. The first is a two week long theatre day camp hosted by New Life Fine Arts. For the low, low price of only $170 per child, their expert staff take campers through the basics of the performing arts: acting, singing, and even some light choreography using the vastly creative canon of past musical dramas this Christian theatre company has produced. Pastor David MacAdam who serves as the Artistic Director and Founder of New Life also composes new pieces every year that never cease to surprise old fans of his work. Volunteer staff prove the true meaning of the word amateur: the one who does a work for the love of that work and not for money or other material remuneration. My older daughter too was infected by this spirit and serves as one of the counselors driving our low, low price of tuition even lower! I am telling you: these good, Christian people do all of this incredibly creative, cultural work for FREE.
The second camp where I dropped off my oldest son Monday evening is an Orthodox Christian camp in the Merrimac River Valley of Central New Hampshire called MBC (Metropolis of Boston Camp). It is a week long, overnight camp that emphasizes adventure, community, and how to really party. Yes, that’s right, you heard me say the words PARTY and CHRISTIAN in the same sentence. Oh, and since it is a Christian Camp, they with equal vigor lead the campers to moments of rich and fulfilling silence called “being alone with God” alongside of daily morning and evening prayer services that suffuse the whole camp with peaceful rest. How, might you ask, do they accomplish this unity of apparent contradictions without letting the noise of adventure crowd out the deep silence of worship or letting the piety of prayer lessen the exuberance of the party? I think it relates to the classic definition of Orthodoxy as put forth by G. K. Chesterton who said that truth should not be found by watering down two extreme opposites to some kind of compromised middle. He said, “We want not an amalgam or compromise, but both things at the top of their energy; love and wrath both burning.” In this case, MBC is both extremely pious and extremely fun without any contradiction. And they do all of this work for the low, low price of less than $700 per camper! Their volunteer counselor staff pour their lives into these children for FREE in the community of faith which makes us all adopted sons and daughters of the Heavenly King.
What does the world offer for summer adventures that equal these fine institutions and do not charge three or four times more? These communities of faith make me think of the words of St. Apostle Paul who chose to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ “free of charge, and so not make full use of my rights as a preacher of the gospel.” Such selfless humility, such devotion and love do I see modeled by the servants of the above named institutions. And their example is contagious. I see my own children entering into this kind of selfless, sacrificial labour in imitation of the holy apostle who “laboured more than all the rest.”
In our culture which is dripping with narcissistic, self-serving leaders, I encourage the reader to hunt Christian institutions like these for a refreshing alternative. They might just inspire you to become a disciple of Our Lord Jesus Christ and offer your services and labors for free!
Like Mendicant Monks... 
Dear Fr. Deacon Aaron,
While perusing my email today, I found I had somehow overlooked reading this message earlier. As always, I find your writings inspirational and inspiring. Thank you. I sincerely pray you and Anna, the children. your dear father and dear Mrs. Sukharev are all well.
With love in Christ, Nicholas Ron
Nicholas Ron [image]
Sent with Proton Mail secure email.
Thanks Ron. Good to hear from you as always.