Work and prayer

[Bruce Bayer]

I have been reading in patristic and Orthodox literature for the last 3 or 4 years. It all started with The Art of Prayer, Spiritual Warfare, Markedes book The Silent Mountain, Gifts from the Desert, Ware's books The Orthodox way, The Orthodox Church, The Jesus Prayer, and The Inner Kingdom, Pelikan's The Spirit of Christendom, Christianity and Classical Culture, The Spirit of the Christian East by Thomas Spidlik. The Pilgrims Way by French, John Climacus' The Ladder of Divine Ascent, John Cassian's Conferences, Being Still, by J-Yves Leloup - a great little book. I've also been saying the Jesus prayer for at least that long. I work in a prison for drug and alcoholism, a full treatment facility for 670 men. I am 15 years in recovery through AA myself and each day is a new day. Each day I am aware that I work in the Devils playground "pulling them from the fire, hating even the garment stained by the flesh". I am a convert to the Roman Catholic Church from Evangelicalism and support my spiritual life through reading Orthodox Literature. I've read for years in the contemplative tradition the western Church but something apart from recieving the Eucharist makes me live through the Orthodox tradition especially the Desert fathers. I suppose I am reminded of my own struggle to recover from alcoholism. It's been a long and arduous road and still the battle and the struggle to surplant the old life and be transformed is daily. Theophan the Recluce's book, The Path of Salvation, explains the life I am trying to undo. Lord have mercy, I am a sinner slow to mend my ways. There is little fellowship in the Catholic Church I guess I'm looking for community. Yet somehow I feel protected and set above the impact of the crafty traps of the enemy of the soul and of life.

[Peter Farrington]

Dear Bruce,

God bless your seeking Him. These are all good books you have been reading.

There is a certain community and fellowship here, but nothing beats having folk you know and trust and love around you.

I pray that you find fellowship both here and in the real world, and may God continue to keep you safe in your important service to society.

Peter

[Bruce Bayer]

Thank you Peter for taking the time to read and respond to my posts you will be in my thoughts and prayer. There is no other to seek, only God can replenish and restore His creatures. Yes, you are right there is no replacing the actual people and there are some. The pace that people in America live is very high and though I feel caught up in the pace, there is a part of me that longs for contemplation. The pace is part of the separation that divides or maybe develops community. I've never been to England. I suppose a person travels at the pace they choose. The fathers did not write or
correspond in some nebulous vacum called the internet , but I think there would be agreement that this is part of the real world. Pray for me, a sinner slow to mend my ways.