[regular.joe]

I was told a story some time ago about the Biship of the Eastern Orthodox Church who lived up in Alaska. He was from Russia. A long time ago he was a priest in a small town in North East Russia. The Communits were coming in a few days to take over the town and the surrounding area. They were shooting priests, and dissenters. The towns folk came to the priest the night before the communists were to show and told the priest to bring his family in to town and hide amongst the people. He told them thank you but I answer to a higher power and calling. The towns folk insisted saying that they did not want anything to happen to him and his wife and children. Upon further argument the towns folk changed thier tune to they did not want anything to happen to them or the town since there was an active priest and parish there. He still said no. They threatened to kill his family, and finally did so in front of him. The priest burried his wife and children and spent the night in prayer. The next day he marched right up to the communists setting up shop in town. The communists and towns folk both asked what the hell are you doing here??? He replied that he had prayed all night for direction and prayed that he might be placed in the place of most service. He figured that this town was one of the most fucked up places on earth and certainly needed his service. He spent the next decades holding mass with one old lady as a participant. I think we all would like to have this kind of character to do what we really believe is right in spite of actual or percieved consequences. Faith without works is dead. Even if that is only faith in your own ideals, intelect and charcter.