The Treatment – Page 3 – The Tao of Holy Orthodoxy

June 3, 2018

77. The Frog

800px-Bufo_periglenes2

The experience of a frog is very different from the life of a tadpole. The frog breathes air through lungs, but the tadpole absorbs oxygen through gills. The frog would come to know a very different and wider world than the limited scope of the tadpole. If they were rational creatures, the frog would have a very difficult time trying to explain what the outer world is like above the water. The only way the tadpole could really understand what the frog described is to grow up into a frog, leave the pond, and explore himself.

Be humbled by the realization that when you read the Holy Scripture, the writings of the Fathers, and the lives of the Saints, you only understand partially. You can only fully grasp the depth and height of their descriptions of the spiritual life when you have the same experience of God that they do. The reality of the Kingdom of Heaven is far beyond the capacity of our rational thought or creative imagination. Reading about the spiritual life and work of the Saints is not enough. Read the wisdom of the Saint so that you may follow their path, the Way of Christ, and become like them (which is to join them in being like Christ) through the Divine Grace.

Keep in mind also that you cannot fully convey the meaning of the Way to those who are in the world, separated from Christ and His Church. By communicating the Truth of the Holy Gospel and by inviting them on the Way, you give others an opportunity to know God with their hearts and to personally participate in His salvation.

Read: 2 Corinthians 12.1-6; Colossians 2.1-10

June 2, 2018

76. Secure the Door

SLNSW_27138_Sliding_grille_at_the_entrance_to_the_Rural_Banks_vault_Martin_Place

Silence provides a condition of rest and prayer, but also an occasion for distraction and conflict. Keep your heart focused on God and the door to your heart secure. Be attentive so that your mind does not wonder off into temptation.

If a tempting thought presents itself, disregard it. If you pay attention to it, you are beginning to unlock the combination lock on the door by your own actions. If you begin meditating on the tempting thought, then you move toward considering acting on the thought. If you continue entering the combination numbers to the lock by taking one step at a time toward accepting the temptation, you open the door for sin to enter. Do not allow the enemy to convince you to open the locked defensive door from the inside.

Do not allow despair over tempting thoughts to take root. Spend no time wondering why you are having bad thoughts or attempting to psychoanalyze yourself. Simply, reject the thought quickly and return your focus to prayer.

Read: Proverbs 4.23-27; James 1.12-15

June 1, 2018

75. In the Calm of the Storm

Hurricane_Isabel_from_ISS

Strong winds whip fiercely around the eye of the hurricane, but the eye remains calm. When you find yourself in an environment of busy, rushing chaos or conflict among people, keep your focus on your heart and pray. Ask the Lord to give you His peace. Beware of getting caught up in the drama. Refuse to take the tempting bait, an invitation to join in the passionate thoughts and feelings others that lead toward sin. Avoid feeding the storm by your own words and actions. If you feel the passion of anger, or other passion, rising within you, reject it in your mind and ask the Lord to purify your heart quickly. Pray for everyone involved that the Lord with bless them.

Do not emotionally react, but prayerfully, thoughtfully respond in harmony with the Way. You are not responsible for what others say and do to you, but what you say and do to others in return. Whatever is directed at you, only offer back what is pure and good in the Name of Jesus Christ.

Do not be deceived by thinking that because you are calm that you are better than others. Remember your own sins and be on guard for thoughts of self-righteousness and judgmental superiority. If you are victorious in a particular moment, realize that you have not reached the spiritual heights. Pride distracts us from watchfulness by filling us with self-satisfaction for our success. Maintain your humility. Remember your own faults. Do not judge others as worse than yourself, but rather, as a fellow sinner struggling to heal the passions, be a humble agent of peace and advocate for love. If you are successful, give thanks to God, who gave you the strength.

Read: Matthew 5.1-12; Mark 4.35-41; Romans 12:17-21; Colossians 3.1-17

June 1, 2018June 1, 2018

74. The Turtle

pexels-photo-turtle

Consider the turtle (or tortoise, if you like). It interacts with its natural environment, but when it feels threatened, it withdraws into its own shell for protection.

Be actively involved in the world around you for your own good and for the sake of others, but do not forget to take the time to withdraw into yourself to pray with your heart. Do not isolate yourself from the people around you, yet be on guard against harmful, soul-corrupting influences.

When you gather yourself, remember who you are. Remind yourself what you are called to do. Defend your heart and mind against the evil spiritual powers and the false ideologies of the world by Grace through prayer. This strategy is not purely defensive. It provides the atmosphere for healing, the staging ground for prayer, and the preparation for ministry to others.

Read: Psalm 31; Matthew 6.5-6

June 1, 2018

73. The Prayer Rope

Prayer ropes

Lord, have mercy.

This is a very simple prayer. It is a powerful prayer. With these few words, you can call upon the Creator and Master of the Universe to ask Him to pour out His Grace upon you. Through this prayer, humbly ask God to forgive your sins, purify your heart, heal your souls, and help you in everything by His Power. Whenever you pray these words, whether alone or in a service of the Church, speak with God with focused attention from your heart.

Another valuable prayer from the Treasury of the Church is the Jesus Prayer:

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me.

You may choose to use a bit longer form:

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.

Pray the Jesus Prayer prayer with your heart wherever you go. Also, pray this prayer during times of private prayer in silence with focused attention. These are not empty words, but communication with the Living God Himself, who loves you and desires for you to experience the fullness of salvation.

To help maintain your focus and to keep track of the number of times you pray the Jesus Prayer, you may use an Orthodox prayer rope (komboskini). Run your thumb across the knots of a prayer rope, one knot for each time you say the prayer. The rope is not necessary, of course, but helpful. As a weapon increases the effectiveness of a warrior, the prayer rope may enhance your effectiveness in prayer by helping you pray with greater focus and more often.

If you carry the prayer rope with you, be discreet and private. Do not show it off publically as an outward sign of your religiousness. Use the prayer rope to cultivate humility and attract the Divine Grace, not to attract the attention of others.

Use the prayer rope to pray for yourself and others. Instead of saying, “have mercy on me,” you may ask God to have mercy on someone else by name. If praying for someone else, omit the words, a sinner.

Consider the prayer rope as a training device to improve your health and increase your strength, as well as a sword in spiritual battle.

As always, remain under the guidance and care of your Priest with regard to your work in prayer.

Read: Psalm 50 (51); Romans 10.12-13; Philippians 2.5-11; Matthew 6.7; 23.5; Luke 18.9-14; 35-43; 1 Thessalonians 5.16-24; 1 John 4.13-18