Over the years a few tell-tale markers of gossip have been revealed to me, usually through those who are much more spiritually disciplined…

Lack of Anonymity: If I have a concern or incident to share with a friend, I try to ask myself, “Is it necessary for me to divulge the identity of this person”?

False Witness: Do I know this concern as a fact, or is it simply “common knowledge” or rather, something someone said to me?

Gossip is NEVER positive: I may think I am directing attention towards a wonderful event, and often I am. However, it is very easy to morph from “Jane won the lottery!” to “It should have been me” or “do you think she will give much of it to the church?”

Gossip is usually TMI: Too Much Information (grin). It’s as if I find an acceptable spot where I can wedge the subject into the conversation. Having done so, I feel justified to expand on the subject as much as possible, because “I think” it is very important for people to understand the entire situation in context.

Gossip breeds the opposite of those things The Apostle Saint Paul described as “Love is…”:

Gossip is impatient

Gossip is not kind

Gossip is fraught with envy

Gossip is boastful and proud

Gossip is rude

Gossip is self-seeking

Gossip easily angers

Gossip keeps records of all wrongs

Gossip delights in evil and denies the truth

Gossip attacks instead of protecting

Gossip is suspicious

Gossip breeds despondency

Gossip is unfaithfulness

Yet it is so very easy for me to indulge in gossip.

May The Lord in His Mercy strike me silent before even one word of gossip spurts forth from my mouth.

ICXC-NIKA!

Gordie/Gordios

I have no idea, but, why not?  DIVING IN.

Still, I have no idea really where to start...

Chaotic thoughts are the state of fallen spirits (demons, spirits who have fallen away from God). Our mind, however, must remain concentrated, whole and vigilant. God can only enter a mind that is whole...

Besides guarding the peace in your hearts, practice standing before the Lord. This means being unceasingly aware that we are standing in the presence of the Lord and that He is watching us all the time. We must learn to awake with the Lord and go to sleep with Him, and eat, work and walk with Him. The Lord is present everywhere in all things.

We can find the Kingdom of God within ourselves. "Descend into your heart and in it you will find the ladder which leads to the Kingdom of God," says St. Isaac the Syrian.

The Holy Scriptures teach us that the Kingdom of God is ... righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit (Rom. 14:17). The first step toward communion with God is to give oneself completely over to Him. After that, it is God's energy that works in us.

Communion with God means that God has made His abode in us and that His energy is working in us. Our spirit puts on God and He governs all our feelings, our will, and our mind. We are then like a tool in His hands. He moves our thoughts, desires and feelings and directs our words and the work of our hands.
- Our Thoughts Determine Our Lives (Elder Thaddeus of Vitovnica) pg 142-143

—Elder Thaddeus of Vitovnica

Elder Thaddeus of Vitovnica was one of the most renowned spiritual guides of Serbia in the twentieth century. As a novice he lived in obedience to Elder Ambrose of Miljkovo Monastery, a disciple of the Optina Elders. From him Fr. Thaddeus learned the Prayer of the Heart and the selfless love that came to characterize his whole ministry to the suffering Serbian people.

Born in 1914, Elder Thaddeus lived through all the suffering endured by Serbia in the twentieth century. Over the course of two World Wars, during the Communist takeover, and through the nato bombings of 1999, he co-suffered with his people. He taught, counseled, and prayed for all who came to him in pain and sorrow. His words of love and hope provided spiritual balm for people from all classes of society.

In 2002 Elder Thaddeus reposed, leaving behind a large collection of his teachings, preserved by his faithful spiritual children. His life, teachings, and spiritual conversations are here presented for the first time in English.

From Saint Herman Press

I've had some great discussions and actually met two people through the previous incarnation of this site - nothing quite worked out but I wish the best to both of them - who knows though... maybe three times is the...?

We'll see - I am in no rush to try to force anything but if anyone out there wants to give things a try, please feel free to send me a message and say hello. :)