Journey Back to Eden.pdf - St Mark Coptic Orthodox Church Chicago

10 SEPTEMBERyour hands—as much or more by the accumulation of my faultsas by the lot drawn for me. And although you would be just indropping me further into the pit toward which I am headed, Ihave my whole attention turned to the moment of my receptioninto your hands, rather than on what may happen afterward.I thank you heartily for the drama of this hour. How elsecould I better commit my faith in your forgiveness of myfaults and the upholding of your love? The grace of this momentis better than any success which may follow, and offsetsin value any failures I may suffer. St. Ignatius prayed, “Giveme only Thy love and Thy grace.” I understand better nowthe meaning of the next line, “then do with me what Thouwilt.” Thank you for the lightness of faith in the gravity oflife. In spite of my weakness, I feel glad enough to think: “Ifthese be all the kinds of reversals and oppositions I will face inthe rest of my life, I would shortly be the saint I have alwaysfailed to be till now.” The Cross he bids me take up today isthe “sweet yoke” and “light burden” he promised, so I praythis in his name, Christ Jesus, my Lord.All Things EgyptianSEPTEMBER 8, MONDAYIt was a very tiring day. The heat in Cairo is still terrible. It’shard to get around this city, and one gets to be pretty soiled veryearly in the effort to negotiate it. Traffic is extraordinarily congestedand quite lawless to my eyes. At any rate, I tried to make myway to the Patriarchate today to see Pope Shenouda, hoping thathe had received my several letters, though he has never answeredany of them. Getting there was quite a project. I’m becoming veryreluctant to part with any funds. Paying taxis is an art in Cairo.The drivers recognize a tourist, especially an American, and ratesseem to go up. I’m having to learn how to negotiate with them bynaming a price stiffly and assertively when I first get in, and not deviatingfrom it. If I don’t name a price and let them name it, by thetime I get out, the fare will be too high. But I find that I can walk,and it’s good exercise. I’m getting over jet lag now altogether andgetting into the swing of things here, surrendering myself to thevicissitudes of life in this city and in this country.