From another Orthodox blog

Ikon of St. John in Silence, 17th c.

A wonderful posting from a wonderful Orthodox Christian blog, from which many bloggers could take a lesson--most definitely including me.

Risky Business Revisited

The state of the Church

From St. Ambrose (The Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers: Second Series Vol. X; Eerdmans pg. 334):

The likeness of Your Church, O Lord, is that woman who went behind and touched the hem of Your garment, saying within herself: "If I do but touch His garment I shall be whole" (Mt. 9:21).

So the Church confesses her wounds, but desires to be healed.

From the Philokalia

From Evagrios the Solitary (The Philokalia Vol. 1 edited by Palmer, Sherrard and Ware; Faber and Faber pg. 38):

Provide yourself with such work for your hands as can be done, if possible, both during the day and at night, so that you are not a burden to anyone, and indeed can give to others, as St. Paul the Apostle advises (cf. I Thess. 2:9; Eph. 4:28). In this manner you will overcome the demon of listlessness and drive away all the desires suggested by the enemy; for the demon of listlessness takes advantage of idleness. "Every idle man is full of desires." (Prov. 13:4 LXX).