In Christ, I am a New Creation, Book II, A Leap of Faith
From our earliest days as Eastern Orthodox converts, my late husband, Gregory, and I shared a spiritual longing; we both longed to live a semi-monastic life near a monastery in the wilderness and experience a little taste of what the Holy Fathers and Mothers of the Orthodox Church experienced in the spiritual desert. We both converted in our 40s and we chose to fulfill this dream in our 60s. The process took 10 years and was a labor of love, especially by Gregory, who built our cabin in the wilderness with the help of the Mother of God, many friends, and family members. In the process, we learned to lay aside our mind chatter and worldly understanding so as to enter into trust in what could not be seen and made little worldly sense.
Book II, A Leap of Faith is the third and final book in my autobiographical Orthodox book series. This book chronicles our last earthly Orthodox journey together. Together, we chose to accept, trust, and have faith in where God was leading us, despite our disappointments, struggles, doubts, and fears. Were we crazy to want to follow the “way of the ascetics”? It was the opportunity of a lifetime that provided essential spiritual stepping stones for both of us. What we experienced, learned, and lived together helped both of us to find a deeper connection to our faith, prayer, and God, which then gave us the courage and strength to make the challenging transitions that awaited us when we returned to the world. May our hard-earned lessons be of service to you in your Orthodox journey. We left the world for a time to fulfill our calling. May this book inspire the fulfillment of your Orthodox callings and dreams as well. As my dear, late husband, Gregory frequently chanted throughout his day, “God is good! God brings good out of everything! Glory to God for all things!”
I am a native San Franciscan currently living in Sacramento, CA. Due to health issues in my early 20s, I began a spiritual journey in quest of inner peace and healing. I felt my soul and body were connected and if my soul could heal, perhaps so could my body.
I was a lapsed Catholic who studied Eastern religions. I had a guru and Tibetan lama, practiced prayer and fasting, and meditation techniques. I studied metaphysics, channeling and the life of the soul, which I later taught to others.
Yet, after twenty-five years of seeking within the New Age and Eastern religions, I was left depressed and spiritually unfulfilled. Thanks to my late husband and the grace of God, my spiritual journey ultimately allowed me to convert to back to Christianity, find God and open my heart newly to Jesus Christ through the study of ancient Christianity in the Eastern Orthodox Church.
I am the author of two published books, The Pearl of Great Price and In Christ I am a New Creation, Part I. I am currently working on my third book, A Leap of Faith, and a book about my saint, St. Veronica, my other guardian angel. St. Veronica is the woman with the issue of blood, whom the Lord healed (Matt. 9:20). In 2018, I will be publishing a book about St. Veronica including an Orthodox liturgical service to her.
I am passionate about:
Eastern Orthodox Christianity (Orthodoxy) since my Christian conversion in 1996.
My relationship with Jesus Christ
Striving to live in the world, but not be of the world
Talking about spiritual warfare - there is an unseen battle being fought for the salvation of
our souls
Helping others come to peace with the Church and God
Connecting with other Orthodox Christians about their spiritual experiences
Living a full life while dealing with chronic health issues
My dogs and gardening
My saint, St. Veronica
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