Windows To Heaven Icons Help Eastern Orthodox Christians To Grow Into A Deeper, More Worshipful Spiritual Life

Sometimes, prayer practices show up in my mail flawlessly written. Such was the case with the one described below by Elizabeth White.

White belongs to Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church on Washington Street in North Spokane.

Icons are an important part of the religion, and White explains why.

Here’s her prayer practice:

“As an Eastern Orthodox Christian, I cannot imagine a prayer life without icons. Icons are an ancient religious form integral to Orthodox worship. Take away icons, and you take away the heart of my prayer.

“Although icons are paintings - usually egg tempera on wood - they are not viewed in the same way as ordinary art, nor judged by the same criteria. Nor are they objects of idolatrous worship, as some have accused.

“An iconographer prepares himself spiritually by prayer and fasting so that the icon he paints will become what it is meant to be - a window to heaven, an aid to entering more deeply into worship and the spiritual life.

“In my home, a section of wall facing East - the direction of Jerusalem - is covered with icons of Christ, Mary and the saints. Beneath them, a stand holds a candle, an incense burner - and more icons. This is where I pray each morning before going to work.

“My prayers are seldom profound, earth shattering, or in any way spectacular. I often struggle with inattentiveness and a wandering mind.

“At times, I simply don’t want to pray. But always, the icons pull me back into communion with God, even if only for a momentary sense of his presence.

“I have a busy life. Still I can always take time to gaze into the eyes of Christ as I walk by. Those eyes penetrate deeply into my soul, crying out for a response. It is said that a picture speaks more than a thousand words.

“The icon can speak to both the saint and sinner. It can unmask imperfections and beg for repentance and change in behavior.

“It can teach theology and strengthen faith. It can comfort and console or elicit praise and thankfulness.

“Western religious art seldom does this on such a deep level or without a maudlin sentimentality that I find somewhat repulsive.

“Most of all, the presence of icons in my home reminds me that Christ is here, in our midst, along with a heavenly realm that is as real as the material world. And how do I need to act because of that truth?”

Prayer book excerpt

Mitch Finley of Spokane has another book out. It’s called “Prayer for People Who Think Too Much” (Skylight Paths Publishing, 190 pages, $21.95).

Here’s part of the introduction:

“Too often we think of prayer as a nut that needs to be cracked. For countless people, prayer is a problem to be solved. So they try a prayer or meditation technique, abandon it, then try another prayer method and soon abandon it, too.

“We read about prayer, listen to lectures on prayer, watch videos on prayer, and maybe attend retreats on prayer. Maybe, we think, a visiting guru can help solve the problem of prayer.

“But prayer is not a problem. Prayer is a mystery, and by no means are these the same thing. Not by a country mile.”