Light a Candle: Seeking the Kingdom First at the Heart of the Ranch
The Chapel as the Flame That Gives Life and Order
The chapel here at the orphanage is relatively small, a little building on the eight acres of walled-in land we call affectionately “the ranch”. And when we look at all the hours in a week, 168 in all, we have to admit that we actually spend relatively little time in that small building.
This little building is the small candle that lights the whole house.
The little leaven that leavens the whole.
The seed that contains everything.
The fire in the coal that gives it life to send up a sweet fragrance of incense.
It is a small church, but it gives life to the ranch. It gives light to the ranch. Picture that moment on Pascha when the church is dark and quiet until that small flame emerges with the words, “Come, receive the light…” and the darkness disappears to reveal all the beauty inside the church. This chapel, meaning the building and the life that engulfs it, animate the ranch. Our heart is the chapel. The fire that gives life and light at the ranch is this chapel.
“As long as this place is a place of praise and thanksgiving to God, it will be blessed.”
Our founder, Gregory Yova said that, and his words are engraved in marble on the chapel's outer wall.
But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Matthew 6:33
I like the image of buttoning up a shirt: the first button is God and the holes are our priorities. If we put God in the first place, everything else will line up perfectly. If something else goes in the first place, there will be issues.
It is a simple message:
Start everything by lighting a candle at the chapel.