Holding On

My friend Nancy commented on the post Living to Die about something Madeleine L'Engle wrote in her book The Rock That Is Higher.

In "The Rock That Is Higher", which my Bible study group is reading right now, in the first chapter, Madeleine L'Engle writes about being in a car accident:

"The ancient words of the Jesus Prayer, 'Lord Jesus Christ have mercy on me,' surfaced in my mind. They have been with me for many years, like a deep, inner fountain. When I wake up in the night they are there--those strong, affirming words. They were with me as I sat in the crumpled car."

Later, in the hospital: "The Jesus Prayer was still with me, a strong rope to which I held like a sailor fallen from a ship."

And: "My only prayer was the Jesus Prayer and that was there for me because it has been part of my inner rhythm for many years, the prayer that fulfills Paul's exhortation to pray constantly, at all times, and in all places."