Close to Home

Molly announces a transition away from Close to Home to her new blog and coming podcast Grace Here and Now.

Molly Sabourin says "Nothing moves mountains in my soul quite like those small, humble, quiet, minute-to-minute acts of submission and restraint."

The model of St. Mary of Egypt is the topic of Molly's reflection today. What changed and what didn't change when she came to the Christian Faith?

Whether it is the right iron, or a home infused with holiness, we must approach life with the right tools.

As we begin 2015, Molly compares two events in recent history to show how fruitless it is to worry about the future.

When we say "congratulations" we rejoice with those who rejoice. But what if our heart feels something different? Are we being hypocritical? Molly relays her conversation with her teenager on this very subject.

Molly Sabourin returns to her podcast coinciding with her new Ancient Faith Blog. Her quest for patience, peace, and perserverence concentrates today on peace.

The Sunday of the Last Judgment is one of the preparatory lessons prior to Great Lent. Molly Sabourin reflects on the practical application for all of us which comes down to one word - Love.

Molly expresses appreciation for The Hidden Garden, a new children's book by Jane G. Meyer. It's a great tool to explain the Orthodox view of salvation to your children!

Like most converts to Orthodoxy, Molly was prepared with her answers and defenses when asked why she took this "strange road." More recently however, she is finding herself less drawn to defending her decision and more toward exhibiting the essence of Orthodox Christianity. A letter from Mother Thekla to a convert helped open her eyes.

In this episode, Molly says "For joy to be miraculous and healing to others, and ourselves, it must be irrational – independent of our circumstances, and fierce in its determination to combat darkness and despair with intentional hopefulness and light."

Do the hardest things first, wrote Fr. Thomas Hopko, which is what Molly concentrates on in today's episode.

Each of us struggle with our own deficiencies, but God is merciful.

Molly is learning that repentance and hope walk hand in hand.

A trip to the county fair ends up giving a lesson in the acquisition of peace in spite of the disturbing news around us.

Molly learns an unexpected lesson from St. Euphrosynos while reading a children's book to her daughter at bedtime.

A spring break family trip to the Smokies provides a reminder that we are desperately dependent on the mercy and faithfulness of God especially as we approach the finish line of Great Lent.

An important lesson learned in the beginning of the 3rd week of the Fast as Molly and the family head to Ikea and back again.

On this first day of Great Lent, Molly compares the condition of her house with the condition of her soul.

We can choose to perpetuate our anxieties, despair, and defeatist attitudes or we can choose a better way.

Molly learns a lesson in scale and perspective with her camera and discovers a analogy for her spiritual walk with Christ as a New Year begins.

If Christians are to be the salt of the earth, who will be the salt of Christians? Molly begins a series of reflections on her weekend experience at a monastery.

Molly says "Only by living solely for loving and serving others boldly, as Christ did while on earth, thereby accepting meekly the disdain of this world, as He did, will I attain salvation (from death, vanity, fear, hatred) or ever possibly be a light in the darkness."

Today Molly introduces the Saint Lydia's Book Club hosted by Conciliar Press author Melinda Johnson (Letters to St. Lydia) and presents the first piece which will launch on the club's web site September 1.

Molly reflects on the recent falling asleep of dear friend Nancy Thompson in Waynesburg, PA. How do we view death as Orthodox Christians?

"What's so special about Lazarus Saturday?" This question from Molly Sabourin's kids sparked today's podcast as she relates a poem by a Russian prisoner to the raising of Lazarus by Jesus.

What do you want to be when you grow up? Molly draws on the wisdom of St. Dorotheus of Gaza for her answer.

A long winter hike in the woods and a reflection on what is really important to focus on in the New Year.

As Molly continues her reflections on the Morning Prayer attributed to Metropolitan Philaret of Moscow, she turns her attention to the phrase "guide my thoughts and feelings."

Being a Christian can sometimes be confused with being a judge. Molly reflects on the temptation to extract slivers from our neighbor's eye only to ignore the lumber in our own eye.

Molly continues her series on the Morning Prayer with this episode reflecting on what it means to live and love in community.

"In every hour of the day, reveal Your will to me." Today's reflection on the Morning Prayer talks about the challenge of living each day, each moment, in communion with God not thinking about yesterday or tomorrow.

"Help me in all things to rely on Your Holy Will" says the Morning Prayer. Molly talks about the challenge of accepting and embracing God's will. Ancient Faith Publishing has a nice wall plaque with this prayer available here.

In her continuing series on the Morning Prayer attributed to Metropolitan Philaret of Moscow, Molly talks about the work of faith involved in our salvation.

Today Molly begins a series of reflections on the widely used Morning Prayer most often attributed to Metropolitan Philaret of Moscow. In her introduction, she talks about anxiety and fears and the perspective opened up to her when she embraced the Orthodox faith.

During this Nativity season, Molly reflects on what it means to love our Neighbor - even if they have different beliefs, moral standards, or no belief at all.

While society denigrates into a series of angry and uncivil arguments, Molly reflects on the temptation to always be "right" vs. the need to be "righteous."

Blessed are they who throw off all inhibitions, forging bloodstained through the crowd, for the unbiased hem of Christ's garment. This essay was featured in the Summer, 2009 issue of The Handmaiden.

Why all the fuss about pageantry and beauty in Orthodoxy? Molly contends it is not God who needs it but us!

"Teach me to act firmly and wisely, without embittering and embarrassing others," says the morning prayer of Metropolitan Philaret of Moscow. So, does that include our children? Molly catches herself forgetting that fact.

Life for many of us has degenerated into an endless series of self-evaluations and pretense which only serve to complicate the simple fact that we are all imperfect human beings in need of forgiveness.

How much time do we waste waiting for life to happen and worrying about things that might or might not happen? Molly is challenging herself and others to live and thrive now.

What is unconditional love and forgiveness? Molly Sabourin says, "Blessed are those who rejoice in the compassion so generously showered upon them and in thankfulness respond by spreading out that same mercy like a blanket of impartiality on a world whose fragile inhabitants are in desperate need of warmth and kindness."

Just about the time you think you have one stage of your children's development figured out, they move on to the next one with all of the uncertainties and fears associated with it. This article is from the current edition of The Handmaiden magazine, published by Conciliar Press.

Life can be full of disappointments and unmet expectations especially for a young mother. Molly Sabourin finds hope in the realness of life and the stability of the Church.

As Holy Week begins, we are tempted to lament the failings of Lent. Molly is challenging herself and others to stand up again and anticipate Pascha with joy and the promise of new life!

Molly is prompted to write a letter to the baby she miscarried 9 years ago after reading the newly released book by Matushka Jenny Schroedel entitled "Naming the Child."

"My soul, my soul, arise! Why are you sleeping? The end is drawing near, and you will be confounded. Awake, then, and, be watchful, that Christ our God may spare you, Who is everywhere present and fills all things." – Kontakion from the Canon of Saint Andrew.

Molly demonstrates the importance of a husband who, while far from perfect, is at the very least devoted to his wife, to his family, and to his God. Originally published in the Winter 2009 issue of The Handmaiden.

If you're a fan of Close to Home, then you'll want to order the book. Molly Sabourin's Close to Home: One Orthodox Mother's Quest for Peace, Patience, and Perseverance can now be purchased in advance at ConciliarPress.com. Here, Molly briefly explains what prompted the book, as well as how it will expand upon her popular podcast and blog.

By becoming integrated, through communal worship and a shared partaking of the Holy Mysteries, into the larger Body of Christ, we are often times called upon to carry on our shoulders those who are struggling, and just as often to accept our need to be carried, when we are dry as bone and have nothing to give.