Real Life (RL)

I am an online gamer. As such, a couple of nights a week I immerse myself in a fantasy world where, with other gamers, I “group” together to accomplish objectives (usually killing evil creatures, which nets you game money, increased power for your character, etc.). Some gamers immerse themselves too deeply in the game, and begin to loose touch with the real world. Having said that, I have known of a couple of marriages that began with meeting in a gaming situation and getting to know each other. And, I have even given “pastoral” advice to some of the people I have come to “know” in some of the long-term groups I have been in.

In these games, by unspoken consent, the initials “RL” have come to mean “Real Life,” that is, the life you have outside the game. You will get phrases like, “I have to return to RL, cya all later.” Or even, “Hang on, I have to AFK something came up in RL.” In other words, we are all aware, at least at a subliminal level, that, like it or not, we have to participate in Real Life. We have to go to work, or go to school, or have children or spouses who deserve our time, etc. Real Life is something we cannot escape and it is something we must deal with. Actually, most of us are not trying to escape Real Life, we are simply taking a rest break from it, much as those who jog, bicycle, etc.

Some people talk about going to church in the same way that gamers talk about getting online. They talk about the worship as a time to refresh themselves, a chance to get away from Real Life, an opportunity to recharge their batteries, as though one gets a dose of the Holy Spirit and the Body and Blood of Christ that will let them be a spiritual Energizer Bunny during the rest of the week.

But, I think that we have the situation sadly reversed. We do not leave RL when we go to church. Rather, worship is Real Life, and this is the passing situation. When we are in the Divine Liturgy — or Vespers or Orthros, etc., but especially in the Divine Liturgy — we are in the midst of the eternal. We are finally getting the correct perspective on things. We are in the heavenly reality where Truth abides and we begin the process of seeing clearly.

What about this life, then? Why, this is the place where we battle monsters and put on our armor! This is the place where we group together, and together take out those evil things that try to harm God’s creation. This is the place where, as we win victory after victory, we grow in power and multiply spiritual riches. Sadly, this is the place where, if we refuse to fight, if we do not use our strength as a group (I can pray by myself, says the fool.), we can end up losing even what little we have. The one big difference between this existence and an online game is that what we do here affects our true Real Life. This may not be RL, but it is certainly the preparation for RL, and our RL will be affected by how we do here in this existence.

So, are you fighting dragons? Are you working with your group to accomplish objectives that will allow you to advance? Are you growing in power from the Holy Spirit? Are you preparing yourself for Real Life?

“Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints—and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.”