Hello you. It’s been a while and I have some things to tell you.

I never thought I would say this but I have officially returned back to my home state of North Carolina. The farm fell through (it’s a long story) but I am in a new home and beginning to settle in. Someday I will have the homestead of my dreams—just wasn’t in the cards yet.

In addition to all of the environmental changes, I have discovered a different kind of home in regard to my faith.

Over the quarantine period in 2020, I dug really deep into apologetics which converted me from an agnostic to a born again Christian. I was raised Roman Catholic and wasn’t familiar with the viewpoints of other denominations and so I started to dig into that too. After praying, reading scriptures, visiting several churches and doing a ton of research on Christian history, I stumbled upon something I didn’t even know existed (due to the lack of popularity in the west)—The Eastern Orthodox Church.

I started reading books and listening to what the church fathers had to say about Christianity and purchased an Orthodox study bible just to see what the ancient faith was all about. The more I read, the more I realized that this was the untainted church—the church that follows the apostles’ teachings and the correct interpretation of scripture. Another great book to break down the faith and church history that I am currently reading is Welcome to the Orthodox Church by Frederica Mathewes-Green.

I still have a lot to learn. There is so much mystery within the divine that our faith walk is never fully over. But the idea of Theosis—bearing your own cross to follow Him is what the Orthodox way teaches and encourages. This is our call as Christians. It is an uphill battle and we must work everyday to do our best to be as Christlike as we can. I am meeting with the priest of the church I plan to join to talk about future chrismation this week. I am excited to be apart of a church community where everyone is doing their best to act out what they believe. Will keep you updated.