Viktor, once again, you have captured not only the painful experience of living through an unjust war, but the essential experience of being human. Thank you.
I realized that my wording was unclear. I do not think it is in any way unjust that, in the face of Putins rapacity, you and your countrymen are fighting back. I think it is unjust that you and your country should have to.
I am writing this through tears, Victor. What you say mirrors my own personal experience of finding God through raw pain. Some months ago, my beloved grandson took his own life. I can never describe the pain....those who have been through it, know. And I am sure, of all people, you can understand it. I wanted to feel angry at God, for not, somehow, preventing this. But instead I felt closer to Him than I had ever felt before.....as if, in spite of all, he had me in the palm of His hand, and shared in my grief. I don't know if you are familiar with Mother Julian of Norwich, an early Christian mystic? She said ''All shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of things shall be well" It is something I whisper to myself, at my saddest, darkest, moments. When I grieve for the suffering of the world, especially in Ukraine, as well as my own loss and pain. I pray for you, and for all of us who are suffering.
Greetings from a supporter of SELCU (The Lutheran church in Ukraine). Truly excellent writing.
If you have not already read this, you may be interested in Dietrich Bonhoeffer's "Widerstand und Ergebung" (letters from prison). He was a lutheran pastor who was murdered by Hitler in April 1945.
Viktor, your words and your understanding of God are filled with exceptional truth, and so intelligent and wise! You have far surpassed many church-going people by a million percent! You have found Him where it was the hardest, in the war, and He shines through you each time you write. Suffering does that to us, it makes us seek the Only One above all this that we experience here in this world. This faith in God you now have is a very mature faith, never doubt that, please. You understand God's Love and compassion for all, as well as the horrible evils present in our world, and how free will can cause so much suffering.
I agree whole-heartedly with you, and am inspired by how you have written about all this, in your many writings. God is with you, and each one of us, every moment of everyday, through everything! 🕊️💞😇
This post is so very beautiful. And true. I think it is especially important to assert the positive vision of faith to counteract the hideous and twisted religious language of Putin’s evil regime that has perverted its church to bless those who are murdering civilians — that fosters a twisted idolatry deifying murderous leaders instead of seeing us all, in our broken humanity, as equal before God. Thank you. Bless you.
Thank you, Viktor. Your message is soulful. A reminder that we are here to support each other should we so choose. And that God is in us. What if we are the ones we've been waiting for?
What a powerful perspective, Viktor. We are not in a direct war in the USA, obviously, but given our warped leadership and the collapsing state of our democracy, I find myself in my own processing of what you said. Thank you for sharing this with us, encouraging us. I am consistently remembering you and Ukraine in my prayers: in my head, heart, soul, and spirit.
One of the paintings the woman is recovering is surprising to see. It is like a painting that I know from our Polish Church here in NY, USA. The story of it is one I grew up knowing. Our Lady of Czestochowa. It represents the survival of Love because soldiers found a painting like that one in the rubble of a burned church. The portrait had two slashes from a sword and the figures were darkened with soot, but it survived the fire of someone else's hate. Bless you for your compassion and the love you share despite what you and your country suffer. 💛 🕊️ 💙
It seems to me that God and prayer are as personal and unique as a fingerprint. No one has the same as you or I. But we all need to do whatever we call "praying" to stop the madness and the pain. I pray for you and Ukraine ❤️🇺🇦
Viktor, I am Catholic and the people in our church who serve with integrity and compassion could not have said things any better than your essay about the presence of God. Thanks.
Thank you for your words, Victor. I always identified with the impestuous Peter; and the Doubting Thomas. Whereas, I understand the necessity of Free Will,; I still struggle with the negative consequences of Free Agency. Want to have my cake, without thinking calories, sugar, or cholesterol. Hence, the constant struggle of humanity in the face of a somewhat inhumane world. Be safe and take care of yourself. 🙏
Viktor, once again, you have captured not only the painful experience of living through an unjust war, but the essential experience of being human. Thank you.
I realized that my wording was unclear. I do not think it is in any way unjust that, in the face of Putins rapacity, you and your countrymen are fighting back. I think it is unjust that you and your country should have to.
I think we all understood what you meant.
I am writing this through tears, Victor. What you say mirrors my own personal experience of finding God through raw pain. Some months ago, my beloved grandson took his own life. I can never describe the pain....those who have been through it, know. And I am sure, of all people, you can understand it. I wanted to feel angry at God, for not, somehow, preventing this. But instead I felt closer to Him than I had ever felt before.....as if, in spite of all, he had me in the palm of His hand, and shared in my grief. I don't know if you are familiar with Mother Julian of Norwich, an early Christian mystic? She said ''All shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of things shall be well" It is something I whisper to myself, at my saddest, darkest, moments. When I grieve for the suffering of the world, especially in Ukraine, as well as my own loss and pain. I pray for you, and for all of us who are suffering.
Greetings from a supporter of SELCU (The Lutheran church in Ukraine). Truly excellent writing.
If you have not already read this, you may be interested in Dietrich Bonhoeffer's "Widerstand und Ergebung" (letters from prison). He was a lutheran pastor who was murdered by Hitler in April 1945.
Viktor, your words and your understanding of God are filled with exceptional truth, and so intelligent and wise! You have far surpassed many church-going people by a million percent! You have found Him where it was the hardest, in the war, and He shines through you each time you write. Suffering does that to us, it makes us seek the Only One above all this that we experience here in this world. This faith in God you now have is a very mature faith, never doubt that, please. You understand God's Love and compassion for all, as well as the horrible evils present in our world, and how free will can cause so much suffering.
I agree whole-heartedly with you, and am inspired by how you have written about all this, in your many writings. God is with you, and each one of us, every moment of everyday, through everything! 🕊️💞😇
A beautiful testimony of faith, Viktor. Prayers that you and all of Ukraine will soon be blessed with peace. 💙💛
This post is so very beautiful. And true. I think it is especially important to assert the positive vision of faith to counteract the hideous and twisted religious language of Putin’s evil regime that has perverted its church to bless those who are murdering civilians — that fosters a twisted idolatry deifying murderous leaders instead of seeing us all, in our broken humanity, as equal before God. Thank you. Bless you.
Yes when all our friends have faded,
and all our loved ones gone,
Then God binds up our broken hearts,
So we can carry on
Thank you, Viktor. Your message is soulful. A reminder that we are here to support each other should we so choose. And that God is in us. What if we are the ones we've been waiting for?
What a powerful perspective, Viktor. We are not in a direct war in the USA, obviously, but given our warped leadership and the collapsing state of our democracy, I find myself in my own processing of what you said. Thank you for sharing this with us, encouraging us. I am consistently remembering you and Ukraine in my prayers: in my head, heart, soul, and spirit.
One of the paintings the woman is recovering is surprising to see. It is like a painting that I know from our Polish Church here in NY, USA. The story of it is one I grew up knowing. Our Lady of Czestochowa. It represents the survival of Love because soldiers found a painting like that one in the rubble of a burned church. The portrait had two slashes from a sword and the figures were darkened with soot, but it survived the fire of someone else's hate. Bless you for your compassion and the love you share despite what you and your country suffer. 💛 🕊️ 💙
It seems to me that God and prayer are as personal and unique as a fingerprint. No one has the same as you or I. But we all need to do whatever we call "praying" to stop the madness and the pain. I pray for you and Ukraine ❤️🇺🇦
Viktor, I am Catholic and the people in our church who serve with integrity and compassion could not have said things any better than your essay about the presence of God. Thanks.
So beautiful, Viktor.
I see the divine in your writing.
Thank you for your words, Victor. I always identified with the impestuous Peter; and the Doubting Thomas. Whereas, I understand the necessity of Free Will,; I still struggle with the negative consequences of Free Agency. Want to have my cake, without thinking calories, sugar, or cholesterol. Hence, the constant struggle of humanity in the face of a somewhat inhumane world. Be safe and take care of yourself. 🙏
🤝🙏🇺🇦