"The strong tower of the wicked comes to ruin, but the root of the righteous stands firm." (Proverbs 12:12)
Twenty-two years ago we watched in horror as the mighty towers of our World Trade Center were attacked, burned and blotted out from the skyline of New York City by a small group of Islamic terrorists.
Yet even though the buildings toppled, and countless throngs of people suffered injuries and death, our "spirit" as Americans remained unshaken. The reason being that we had a firm foundation - "good roots" as it were - that held us up and held us together during that moment of crises. We stood shoulder to shoulder in unity and faced the situation as Americans!
It is often said that a "tree is only as strong as its roots;” and as Christians, we too need a good foundation of strong, healthy roots which will keep us grounded, hold us up straight and "pump" strength into our tired aching limbs.
The roots we need for a quality life in Christ, as well as the foundation we must build upon is, of course, prayer. For if we do not have a solid, precise, daily routine of prayer we, in effect, have nothing at all and will indeed waver and crumble as the first wisps of trouble begin to blow. Prayer helps us to endure all aspects of life and affords us the courage to bare our cross – even amidst times of great personal calamity, chaos and spiritual devastation.
St. Theophan the Recluse told us that: "If we are not successful in our prayer life we will not be successful at anything, for prayer in the root of everything.”
If you wish to be a successful Orthodox Christian – truly climbing on the ladder of perfection – the first rung towards God is PRAYER!
With love in Christ,
Fr. John
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