JUST LUCKY, I GUESS

After co-facilitating another excellent three-day cohort gathering of those training in spiritual direction with the St Benedict Center for Spiritual Formation (https://stbenedict-csf.org/), I am relaxing this afternoon with an iced coffee and one of my favorite books: “A Place of Healing for the Soul: Patmos.” As the book nears its end, the author has made his way from atheist to Orthodox Christian. In a few of the final chapters he seeks to describe the fundamental differences between Eastern and Western Christianity. I appreciate the simplicity and humor of these words:

In my experience, really committed Protestants tend to think of themselves as “saved” because they have accepted Jesus; Roman Catholics, on the other hand, see themselves as “sinners” in need of weekly absolution. Orthodox just think themselves luck.

There is, it seems to me, enough of the living truth in each of the three Churches to bring its members to Christ. Just as each has enough of fallen humanity to give the Holy Spirit a hard time (Peter France, A Place of Healing for the Soul: Patmos, Atlantic Monthly Press (2002), p. 168).

Despite being English, the author doesn’t specifically address the Anglican Church, perhaps because he sees it as Protestant or perhaps because, as in most things Anglican, there is no firm consensus on this issue. And for me? I agree with Metropolitan Kallistos Ware, of blessed memory. I “have been saved” through baptismal regeneration. I “am being saved” through participation in the Sacraments and the faith and life of the Church. I hope finally “to be saved” solely by the grace and mercy of the one who loves me and gave himself for me. If that can be described as “luck,” then I am lucky indeed. I think it is grace.