There is a word in the Eastern Orthodox tradition that resonates with me, logismoi , which refers to ‘ thought form(s)’. In The Mountain of Silence, Kyriacos Markides writes about negative logismoi as though forms that obstruct our vision of God. I have many little logismoi, all of which get in the way of prayer. I know that my prayer isn’t as powerful when I have critical and judgmental thoughts about the very person or situation that I’m praying for. And yet, even that paltry prayer is better than no prayer at all. If I waited for a pure heart, I’d hardly be praying at all. Through God grace I realize how limited I am and how magnanimous God is. God takes up the slack.
According to the Orthodox tradition, we need to pray for catharsis, for the cleaning of our hearts and minds of negative logismoi. We are not to push these thoughts into our unconscious; certainly we must examine them. But we can release many from our mind the minute they appear; release all the chatter about a person or situation. And we can change our situation; if we want to eat healthy, don’t buy potato chips or candy; if we want to save money, don’t go to the mall.
Some bad habits or thoughts have pervaded our lives for a long time and have become addictions. To overcome them takes enormous perseverance and support from others, ourselves and God. But many of our logismoi are small, trivial little thoughts, which, if we so desire, we take immediate control to eliminate. It’s up to us and God, and it can happen right now. All we need is the willingness. God’s grace is there.
According to the Orthodox tradition, we need to pray for catharsis, for the cleaning of our hearts and minds of negative logismoi. We are not to push these thoughts into our unconscious; certainly we must examine them. But we can release many from our mind the minute they appear; release all the chatter about a person or situation. And we can change our situation; if we want to eat healthy, don’t buy potato chips or candy; if we want to save money, don’t go to the mall.
Some bad habits or thoughts have pervaded our lives for a long time and have become addictions. To overcome them takes enormous perseverance and support from others, ourselves and God. But many of our logismoi are small, trivial little thoughts, which, if we so desire, we take immediate control to eliminate. It’s up to us and God, and it can happen right now. All we need is the willingness. God’s grace is there.
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