Rocky Cape Christian Community

Russian villagers meeting on the road on a cold evening -- artist unknown.

 
A good number of years ago I stumbled upon a writing by an anonymous Russian peasant, who -- sometime before the Tsar's liberation of the serfs in 1861 -- learned how to "pray without ceasing." In his writing (quite imperfect and reflecting his Russian Orthodox upbringing) the man describes his rough childhood, his search for the meaning of life, and eventual satisfaction in Jesus, even though he describes himself as "a homeless wanderer of the humblest birth who roams from place to place, my worldly goods being a knapsack on my back with some dried bread in it, and in my breast-pocket a Bible. That is all."
 
Quite simply, what this Russian wanderer found was how to live in the awareness of Jesus all the time. He found it through praying like the blind man by the side of the road, or like the publican in the temple, "Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy, on me a sinner!"
 
Very soon after persecution scattered the first Christians from Jerusalem, earnest men and women began to pray this "Jesus Prayer." All prayers, they believed, come to together in the simple words, "Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy, on me a sinner!"
 
Through this prayer they confessed their faith in Jesus, their own need, and the action required to bring help from heaven to earth.
 
Praying this Jesus Prayer, some of the early Christians, and many hundreds of believers since them in Greek and Slavic lands (the Byzantine empire, Bulgaria, Russia, and lands further east) found their path through life with innner quietness and peace.
 
When troubled they prayed, "Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy, on me a sinner!"
 
When frightened they prayed, "Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy, on me a sinner!"
 
When tempted they prayed, "Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy, on me a sinner!"
 
When perplexed or confused they prayed, "Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy, on me a sinner!"
 
From the midst of great crowds they prayed, "Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy, on me a sinner!"
 
Faced with difficult people they prayed, "Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy, on me a sinner!"
 
In conflict they prayed, "Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy, on us sinners!"
 
When joyful they prayed, "Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy, on me a sinner!"
 
When carried about by emotions they prayed, "Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy, on me a sinner!"
 
Suffering loss and in grief they prayed, "Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy, on me a sinner!"
 
At work in barns and granaries, in the fields, the kitchen, the laundry, or the workshop they prayed, "Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy, on me a sinner!"
 
In meetings for worship they prayed, "Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy, on me a sinner!"
 
At home with their families they prayed, "Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy, on me a sinner!"
 
When they had nothing else to think or do they prayed, "Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy, on me a sinner!"
 
During all occasions, all day long, they silently prayed, "Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy, on me a sinner!" until these simple words became etched into their hearts and minds and they found themselves praying the Jesus Prayer as naturally as they kept on breathing.
 
The Jesus Prayer became the anchor that held their lives to God.
 
When I learned about this from the Russian peasant I felt skeptical at first. Was this just another "religious trick," another little thing to do to "get spiritual"?
 
Well, all I can say is I tried it -- and it worked! Amazingly enough, every time I prayed the Jesus Prayer with my mind on what I was doing, I became aware of the presence of Jesus in a real way. At first I did it many times through the day. Sometimes I became distracted and went for several hours without it. But the more I caught on what was happening the more I enjoyed it, and after several years of doing it, yes, it became "second nature" to me like walking, seeing or breathing.
 
Better yet, as the Jesus Prayer became a part of my existence, my troubles began to get less and less and many simply faded away. Sure, work remained work, things still broke, people still came up with all sorts of funny predicaments around me. Challenges continued to challenge, and the pressures of life in family, church, and community kept on pressing in. Some criticised, some flattered, some tried to tear me apart or push me here or there. But in the awareness of Jesus everything became less scary and somehow "manageable" again.
 
In the warm light of Jesus' presence and surrounded by his mercy I rediscovered life like I knew it as a child -- life like it ought to be. Peace, order, and Gemeinschaft among all living and growing things. Peace through our Lord Jesus Christ in loving community. Simple people, little pleasures, lasting joy. Jesus not only in Russia or Canada, but wherever I go.
 
What about you? Have you found him? Stop running here or there. Stop looking to men or women to make you happy. Discover the Kingdom of God within you and you will be glad.
 
"Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy, on us sinners!"
 
Peter   
 
Rocky Cape Christian Community
19509 Bass Highway
Detention River, Tasmania 7321
Australia
www.thecommonlife.com.au