[Apparpsmose]

Yes, the problem with me discussing the article from Father Andrew's English Orthodoxy site is that it comes out a bit new age-ish.

However, if I could get my thoughts straight....... The monks and nuns of the holy places like Mt Athos have been praying constantly for the whole world for centuries but their numbers are dwindling. We Orthodox Christian, lay people, our numbers do seem to be increasing again - because of people converting, but, there are still a lot of us, and I include myself in this, who are a bit wishy-washy, trying to fit into the world and still be Orthodox, battling daily with trite worldly matters.....

If prayer is at it's strongest with fasting and standing prayer etc (as with the Saints). Then my (current) prayer in non-fasting times, hurried because I have to rush off to work or somewhere else ... those prayers (of mine) must be pretty weak. And I know, by talking with other Orthodox people, that I am not alone in my pathetic attempts at prayer.

So, if the prayer from the Orthodox is weaker and the activity of the other side is stronger then.. well it makes sense to me, although I can't put it into words.... It ties up in my own mind with the whole Noah and the flood, Lot and Sodom and Gomorah thing.

I think we need to pray better and more.

In Christ
irene