We live in a fast food society that is focused on consumption and doing things at a fast rate. Every sit down and think what life is all about? Most people don't because they are distracted by the different media outlets, smart phones, work, school, family or whatever you can name must take up our time. Then what is the point of life? Every wonder why we are here? Every ask the question what is my talent or how I'm I to contribute to this world? The Orthodox answer to this is to live in the image and likeness of God. God created us in his image (Gen 1:26-27). We are unique in the eyes of God. So when you look at the mirror you are looking at the image and likeness of God. A part of God is in you. Every think of that? Kind of scary when you sit down and think about it. But why scary? Should it be scary? Many of us live life not even thinking about these aspects so if you are thinking about it then you are one step closer to understanding your purpose in life.
Life is meant to be lived in communion with God. Being one with God (theosis) is how all Christians should live out their lives. Partaking of the divine energies of Christ is how we are to live our lives. Cultivating our holiness and spirituality is what life is all about. Once you realize this is how life should be lived out then you will start to see everything around you in the world as being good because it's been created by God. Our fallen nature however, takes the good and turns it to bad. Westernized Christianity has corrupted our minds to always think because we are sinners we can never be worthy to even speak to God so then our prayer life takes a hit. Before you know it that will carry into not reading the Bible etc. However, this is not the case at all. If we are created in the image and likeness of God then we are designed to be able to reach a perfect state of mind. Once we have reached theosis with God then sin will cease to a problem to our fallen human nature. St. Anthony fought with the devil for 20 years. Then the devil gave up because he saw that he could not get to him. It shows that if we truly put in the effort then the health of our spiritual lives will be maintained and continue to grow and develop with Gods energies being present within us (Holy Spirit). This type of living carries into all aspects of our life including our liturgical life shared within the community of the believers. I am not suggesting either that this life is easy. It takes years years and years to work towards. Just like we struggle and sweat for the worldly satisfaction we must also struggle to live out this calling.
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St. Cyril's fraction entitled (O Lamb of God-SUS Copts Black Liturgy book pg.459-461) has a nice part about theosis as it says "At the turning of the bread and wine into Your body and blood, our souls shall be turned unto fellowship with your glory, and our souls shall be united to your divinity". As we partake of the holy body and blood not only do we take it habitually but it's a lived experience as we reunite with the divinity of God when we partake of his energies.
As well the communion prayers before and after communion speak of this union.
Prayer before communion: "Open my eyes and heart that I may accept Your gifts and blessings and let Your Holy Spirit abide in me that I may united with you and live for the glory of Your Holy Name."
Prayer after communion: "Let my union with You today be everlasting. Make me increase in virtue and strengthen my faith and my hope."
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Seek out your holiness and your spirituality in the secular society we live in. A great read is "Orthodox Prayer Life" by Matthew the Poor. Here is a link to the book (not complete) to an online version of the book. This is a good start if you are looking to start living out this life. Father Matthew, before becoming a monk, was a pharmacist and gave up the world to seek out his holiness and spirituality. We do not have to leave the world to do such a thing as he offers great insight to how to live this life out in his book.
http://books.google.com/books?id=CpPnSHWu5d8C&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_ge_summary_r&cad=0#v=onepage&q&f=false
I also recommend this blog with the main focus on Orthodox Spirituality. I learned a lot from all the post in this blog and I am sure we can all learn from the posts. Most important beyond the learning is living out what we learn and hear and this blog offers amazing insight to how one can live out this life.
http://returnorthodoxy.blogspot.com/
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"But the deification (theosis) that the Fathers had in mind does not mean the change of the human nature into a divine one. Rather, it means qualifying human nature for life with God in a communion of love. This is accomplished by lifting the serious barrier that severs the life of man from that of God-namely, sin. This takes place through our ablution and sanctification by the blood of Christ and our partaking of his Body. For this reason, deification-or union in its perfect sense as a life with God-cannot be fulfilled except at the resurrection from the dead. But we have been granted means of grace, commandments, and divine power by which to conquer sin, the world, and the life of this age. We have thus a new door opened before us. Through this door we can have-here and now-a foretaste of the union with God in communion of love and in obedience.-
Father Matthew the Poor-Orthodox Prayer Life. 107.
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