Arseny has a new name and is on a new journey, so on this week’s episode David, Heidi, and Tim dig into Ustina the miracle worker, the self-awareness of the book, reading it from a theological perspective, why David has some reservations about it, and much more.
I'm new to Close Reads, and please forgive me if you have discussed this somewhere else, but why is there no mention of the concept of Chronos vs. Kairos in this podcast. The appearance of the plastic bottle points directly to Arseny's exit from Chronos and entry into Kairos!
My feeling about David's frustration is that it is valid but the frustration he is feeling is the result of Vodolazkins great writing. We are meant to feel that frustration. We are meant to feel the disoriented, time varying, stream of consciousness and unconsciousness. The way of healing in the midst of great guilt is often that way. We don't have direction or daily routines. We are spiritually wandering and lost in the mire of life. One can only move from encounter to encounter without any connection because we don't have resolution or forgiveness. We want to 'work out our salvation' on our own but fail. Like Luther we keep failing and can't rest until we find peace. To conclude, I relate to what David's point is but find it purposeful on the part of Vodolazkin in order to express the disorienting nature of guilt on our souls.
So, I want to drop a comment before I forget. I am only part way into the podcast. This is my second reading if Laurus. I loved it, but initially my feelings were mixed as David is expressing. My main issue is that the author makes Arseny a saint without ever sending him to the Eucharist. I mentioned this to friends (all of us Orthodox) and people said I was wrong. So on this read I am looking for the liturgy.
Okay, in the book of Repose, the liturgy shines (guess I missed that in my first reading). So, if time is not an issue, then Christ works through the life of the saint who does later receive confession and Eucharist.
I'm new to Close Reads, and please forgive me if you have discussed this somewhere else, but why is there no mention of the concept of Chronos vs. Kairos in this podcast. The appearance of the plastic bottle points directly to Arseny's exit from Chronos and entry into Kairos!
My feeling about David's frustration is that it is valid but the frustration he is feeling is the result of Vodolazkins great writing. We are meant to feel that frustration. We are meant to feel the disoriented, time varying, stream of consciousness and unconsciousness. The way of healing in the midst of great guilt is often that way. We don't have direction or daily routines. We are spiritually wandering and lost in the mire of life. One can only move from encounter to encounter without any connection because we don't have resolution or forgiveness. We want to 'work out our salvation' on our own but fail. Like Luther we keep failing and can't rest until we find peace. To conclude, I relate to what David's point is but find it purposeful on the part of Vodolazkin in order to express the disorienting nature of guilt on our souls.
So, I want to drop a comment before I forget. I am only part way into the podcast. This is my second reading if Laurus. I loved it, but initially my feelings were mixed as David is expressing. My main issue is that the author makes Arseny a saint without ever sending him to the Eucharist. I mentioned this to friends (all of us Orthodox) and people said I was wrong. So on this read I am looking for the liturgy.
Okay, in the book of Repose, the liturgy shines (guess I missed that in my first reading). So, if time is not an issue, then Christ works through the life of the saint who does later receive confession and Eucharist.