Slow and Steady

In reading the lives of the saints we see them doing heroic battle with passions and demons through extreme asceticism and feats of prayer. As inspiring and admirable as this is, it doesn’t seem to apply to us wee folk. In my non-heroic battles, here’s what works (for me):

1. Pray my normal morning and evening prayers and fast my regular fasts.



The worst temptations not to pray are on bad days, when I don’t want to pray. They also come on good days, when I feel like I’m floating along on God’s grace and am happy. That’s when I think I don’t need to pray. On a good day, coming back to dutiful prayer is… well, just DO it and see! :-D

The only thing I know about fasting is that the key is consistency. Whatever I set out to do, I need to do it!

2. Pray the Jesus Prayer.



For me this is best done while walking. I need both walking (getting outside!) and praying (settling my inside).

3. Do my daily work.



It must be done. It’s there to do. Just do it.

4. Focus on the right-now needs of others.



Try not to get lost in the problems of others. I should do what I can for them right now and try not to worry.

5. Pray for others.



Let God worry about others. Ask the Theotokos and the saints to pray for them. The saints pray much better than I do!

6. Go to Church as often as I can.



Pray the prayers of the Church. Get grounded! I need constantly to immerse myself in the Really Real, or I “forget”.

7. Go to Confession.



Get a load off! :-)

8. Receive Communion.



Receive LIFE and strength, “provision for the journey” (such a cliche, but true).

9. Receive encouragement and balance by talking with my priest, doing selective reading, and attending adult ed.



I need constantly to remind myself of what I do know. An objective view gives perspective, helps find the balance, and keeps things in proportion.

10. Don’t decide or act in haste — wait and watch for God to show me.



This is tough. This is where faith comes in, and courage, and being open to “clues”. I gotta learn to hang in there without shutting down and closing off.

That’s it! It sounds boring, but it’s not. God pours out grace.

Re: passions and demons. I call them “upsets”, since that’s how I know them, as violations of peace. It’s “ok” to be upset, but I have to bring it to God, and (at some point) I have to leave it with Him. I can’t hide my upsets from Him anyway, so I might as well bring them. I have to think through things and try to figure them out, but I can’t dwell on them endlessly, and some things I can’t fix. So I might as well leave them with Someone Who can figure them out and fix them. :-) When I reach an impasse in whatever is bothering me, such that I “can’t think about it anymore”, it’s time to put it on a back burner, never mind it, and go back to work on #1-10 above.

(I’m sorely tempted to post this in a central location as a permanent reminder to myself!)