I was raised United Methodist in Alabama, but am now Eastern Orthodox at Holy Trinity Holy Cross in Birmingham, Alabama, where I lead the north-side choir.

I play the music of Michael Hedges on the steel-string acoustic guitar, and I play the music of J. S. Bach and Joe Pass on the nylon-string classic guitar.

I’m also learning to lift weights.

Sometimes my bank asks for my favorite food, so I now regard that as sensitive information. But I can at least tell you my staples: azifa, and chili (with beans). Also, after Pascha I like to eat roast beef, cheddar, and horseradish sandwiches.

I have listened to the majority of Fr. Stephen de Young’s Bible studies. They are good.

Some favorite recent nonbiblical writings from the West include Berry’s Sex, Economy, Freedom, and Community, Blount’s Book of Southern Humor, Camus’s The Plague, Dostoevsky’s Brothers Karamazov, O’Connor’s Collected Works, and Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings.

At a friend’s request I also once read The Memory of Running by Ron McLarty. His recommendation cut me to the quick. I despised more or less every page of it, and am so glad I did.

I am still trying properly to absorb On the spiritual law by St. Mark the Ascetic.