u/WhereasClassic3151

Pedal steel guitar is a fixture in country, but what about bluegrass? I ask because I'm listening to Jarrod Walker's new album and several songs feature pedal steel. I love the sound, but in the back of my mind I wonder if that's "allowed" in bluegrass? I figure if dobros are allowed, why not pedal steel? Billy's album Renewal has some pedal steel work, too.

Not trying to split hairs 🙂 just wondering, what makes bluegrass distinct? What instruments are used or can be used, and what is usually avoided, you know? Pianos and harmonicas can be used but are not as common as fiddles or banjos.

Anyway, what do y'all think? I personally love pedal steel, so if that's a problem, oh well! 🎵

Hi everyone, I'm not sure how to write this so please excuse me if it's a bit rambling.

I have come to feel alienated as a single young man in the Church. I don't fit in with the families, young or grown up. I'm not sure how to relate to a guy my age who is married with 2-3 kids.

I'm not a kid or teenager anymore, but I'm also not middle-aged or senior. I'm in an odd middle spot. I suppose I know what it's like to be a kid, so I can talk to them about Pokémon for a minute, but that's not a substantial conversation for me.

Ultimately I feel like my value hinges upon if/when I get married and start a family, which at this point is basically a pipe dream given the dreadful ratio of single young men to single young women in the Church. I hate to quantify things, but I'm not sure how else to get my point across.

Side note: I don't really want akathist recommendations. Yes, I know about Xenia of St. Petersburg. I also know people who have prayed that akathist and nothing changed in their lives. That's not the point of this post. Thanks for understanding 🙂

Back to the point, I've regularly asked over the years if I've considered seminary. Yes, I have. But marriage feels entirely unattainable, and I would prefer to not be celibate for the rest of my life. I keep hoping that maybe I'll meet someone along the way.

To add to that, some days I feel strong in my faith. Other days I wonder if I believe at all. Yes, I've discussed this with my priest.

What happens is that I feel aimless. I show up for church, serve in the altar, chat at coffee hour, and go home. I pray during the week, some days are better than others. I have friends at church but we're all living our lives. I'm lucky to see them once a week. I find myself having closer bonds to guys who aren't Orthodox, some of them not even Christian or religious in any sense. I don't know if I should just lean into that for now, but there it is for what it's worth.

Where this fits into the picture I don't know, but let me mention that I'm not an Orthobro. I'm as irritated with Dyerites, Heersians, and that whole scene as much as anyone. I'm an Ancient Faith/St. Vladimir's kind of guy.

I relayed this to a close friend at church. He listened patiently and I know he cares about me. And while I appreciate that, it doesn't really feel like it changes anything. I'm always uneasy about using terms like "feel" because they sounds so abstract, but like I said, I'm not sure how to write this.

I can't quite articulate what I feel inside, so hopefully this makes sense. If any young men are also going through it, stay strong. I know what you're grappling with and it isn't easy. We'll make it, God willing.