I met an Orthodox person today!

I realize this may not be a big deal to most people.  It is probably every day that most people meet others of their particular religious denomination, if they bother to discuss it.  Of course around here (the South) you're bound to meet a Baptist, a Methodist, a Church of Christ-er, a Presbyterian, the occasional Catholic, etc.  But for me, being an Orthodox in the South, it's very rare that I meet a fellow Orthodox.  Since I've lived here my whole life and been Orthodox my whole life, I feel like I already know most of the other Orthodox in town or know OF them or they know my parents or my brother.  That being said, I get very excited when I meet someone 'like me'.  And today, I did just that!   

This person was a medical supply rep here at our office today, from Chicago.  I noticed right away that he had on a gray prayer rope, like me, and that he had his wedding ring on his right hand, like most Orthodox.  Also the fact that his name was Vladimir was also a bit of a give-away.  As we (the other reps, my doctor, and I) were finishing lunch and the business conversation, I did mention to him that  I had noticed his prayer rope and ring and name.  And I tugged on my prayer rope to show him.  He said he had noticed that as well.  Pretty cool.  I told him that around here, it is very rare to meet an Orthodox person.  He, being from Chicago who has a large Serbian population as well as the largest Ukrainian population in the states, is used to running into fellow Orthos.  Our prevalence is much greater up North and up East.  

I suppose it may be hard for other people to understand why I'd get excited to meet a fellow Orthodox.  What many people here don't understand is that we are so rare here.  I also feel that Orthodox have a bond that many other denominations can't/don't/won't understand.  We are truly one Body.  We speak different languages and live in different countries, but we are one.  We are in Communion (which means something very different to us than most), we are baptized into Christ's life, death, and Resurrection in an inexplicable way.  Our services, our Gospel readings, our hymns are all one, throughout the world.  It's such a uniting force; the original "Force" if you will :) 

Other cool Orthos: