Getting hooked

Doc Bubbles made a point to fill up her car with gas the other day, as she did not want to have to worry about filling up on the way down to the city for Divine Liturgy at 9:30: she felt proud for remembering this on Thursday and stopping, even though she had to go to the bathroom. Then, when her tank was full, she remembered that she was not actually going to the Orthodox Church this Sunday and was sad. She had to return to Egypt, for her bondage as a Sunday School teacher. Why is it that the burdens of daily prayer and twice weekly fasting (so far) seem lighter than the bondage of the works demanded of everyone at the Methodist Church? Perhaps her attitude will change in a couple weeks when she begins the Nativity Fast. But that fast, at first anyway, contains lots of fish wine and oil allowed days (not that she is really doing the no oil part) so she knows she will not suffer much except for Mr. Crackle's jokes and eye rolling. It is true: probably she will have duties at church when she becomes Orthodox, like bringing all the food for a meal after Divine Liturgy every so often, but for now, her only duty is learning and she is happy! So having only have her five minutes of driving, rather than a half hour is not consoling her. She is hooked, friends. Not to mention, she stopped in Goodwill and got a couple lovely scarves, and is already wearing one to pray at home, but can't wait to "fit in" (even though not all the women at the Orthodox Church she is going to wear them) and wear these pretty scarves. Oh vanity, girl! Are the accessories of piety so attractive now?