www.byzcath.org Forums General Discussions Town Hall Following the Path of Our Father

Shlomo Lkhoolkhoon,

I have a very big favor to ask you all. As some of you know, I wanted to write about my expierence being homeless. I have done so in the article herein. I would love for you all to look it over and give suggestions to make it a better piece for our fellow Christians.

The article itself will be under an assumed name so that it does not come across as begging, and the main foci will be on God and St. Maron.

Please be as demained as possible. I want this to get to the widest audience as possible, and have a very possitive impact. As always...

Fush BaShlomo Lkhoolkhoon,
Yuhannon

FOLLOWING THE PATH OF OUR FATHER

Shlomo Lkhoolkhoon (Peace to you all in Syriac),

Hello, my name is not important. What is important is understandeing that even in the darkest parts of our lives God, the Communion of Saints and our fellow brothers and sisters here on Earth are with us.

I chose the title above because it reflects the unique nature of those of us who are Maronites; that is, we are part of Beit Maroun (the House of Maron). I also chose this title because it a very literal since I am following the Path that Mar Maroun (St. Maron) lived.

Literal, in that like Mar Maroun, I too live out of doors in the elements and am totally dependent on others to survive physically, and in God to survive spiritually. I will not go into great details about my life because this article is focused on God and Mar Maroun; but because of illness and some wrong choices I have made I have been homeless for nearly a year. Here in the Mountain West United States, as opposed to the rest of the country, the social safety net is very weak, and I am one of those that can not take advantage of the full range of services that others can.

When I first became homeless, I was very angry. I was mad at myself, the world and God. Especially at God, since I felt that I have devoted myself to him and he let me be tossed out into the streets.

As time when on, I re-read the history of the Maronite Church by Pierre Dib and other histories of our Church. What caught my eye was that the person that Our Church is named after was "homeless" his entire adult life. Mar Maroun, never had a house, but he had a home in his heart that he shared with God. I said to myself, that if Our Church was founded on his example, then how can I a member of his house (Beit Maroun) not learn from his example.

And learn from it I have. I have learned humility in seeking alms (contributions) from others. I have learned to forgive others who curse me, and threaten me with physical harm. I have learned that there are many Christians that do not know Christ; and many non-Christians who live Christian values. I have learned to love those that I do not like, and I have learned humility.

The greatest lesson that Mar Maroun and God have taught me, is humility and gratitude. Gratitude especially in that I am lucky to be an American, where even being poor is not as tragic as it is in most of the rest of the world. I am grateful that I have been given and recieved Maronite Spirtuality, for without it I do not think I could have survived on the streets.

The gift of humility has taught me that even though my present situation is not one that I or anyone would wish for, there are many who I can help by being where I am today. I have had people thank me for being willing to witness for Christ! The humility that I have been granted has helped me maintain my dignity.

The greatest gift of all of this is that I am able to share this with you my fellow Maronites, Catholics, and Apostolic Christians. As well as other Christians who have the truth of Christ inprinted onto their souls. I hope you my brothers and sisters are grateful to God for what he has given you, and I hope that you share those gifts with the less fortunate as God has commanded us.

I hope this also enspires you to get to know Our Church's history and have you all become more fully committed to the Maronite Spiritual heritage that is a great gift from God and Our Father, Mar Maroun.

Fush BaShlomo Lkhoolkhoon (Stay in Peace),
Shawn A. Dorisian

Shlomo Lkhoolkhoon,

I found a great quote that I am including. I think it will greatly improve the article.

Fush BaShlomo Lkhoolkhoon,
Yuhannon

Shlomo Lkhoolkhoon,

I am again appealing to the membership for help. Please look over the above and let me know what I can do to improve this article.

Thank you all.

Fush BaShlomo Lkhoolkhoon,
Yuhannon

Yuhannon,

I would suggest changing the narrative style, so that you share your story with examples of change rather than with claims of change. For people that know you a change would be obvious, but people who don't know you may see your reflection as a boast.

An effective way, in my opinion, would be to start off with a tense situation and your reaction to it now, explained through your faith, with a reflection on how you would have reacted.

I know you do that some, but to me it's not vivid enough. It's good to say "I too live out of doors in the elements and am totally dependent on others to survive physically, and in God to survive spiritually," but a reader may get a more concrete sense of what it means to be dependent if you were to describe hunger. You can speak about physical hunger and shift it to a reflection on spiritual hunger and being fed spiritually by the testimony of Saint Maroun. A vivid demonstration of you coming into sympathy with Saint Maroun and, with him as a guide and a signpost, to God would be very effective and it would be appealing to a broad audience.

Terry