The first call

John Climacus speaks about sleep without severity. Sleep is a natural need, an image of death and a rest for the senses. It has several causes: nature, food, tiredness, and sometimes excessive fasting. But he adds an observation that is easy to miss: much sleeping is also a habit, like drunkenness, and it must be fought, especially at the start.

Straight after that he turns to prayer with others, in church, because that is exactly when drowsiness, distraction and the urge to be late attack. He describes how all the cunning excuses appear at just that time: wait, you will get there later; yawning; chatting; leaning on the wall. And he gives a measure: gold is tested in fire, and a man’s zeal by how he stands at prayer.

Today this rung shows itself in chaotic sleep, sometimes too little, sometimes the whole morning. In always being late, even where it matters to arrive at the start. In prayer said in passing, while doing something else.

The practice is simple, but it asks for consistency. Work out how much sleep you really need and a fixed time to wake, on days off too. When the alarm rings, get up. Do not bargain with the thought that says: lie there a little longer. Go to common prayer regularly, with your family, and arrive at the start. There, keep silent and follow the words, and leave the phone in your pocket. And pray with others: John says many are better suited to praying with one kindred person than entirely alone. With your wife, if only briefly, before sleep or before lunch.

John also passes on the story of the angel who showed Saint Anthony how to live: now he sat and worked, now he rose and prayed. Not at the same time.

When you pray, only pray. When you work, work.

There are three traps. Excess after excess: an exhausted body seeks comfort in sleep, and a whole day off disappears. Rest, but do not lose the day. Then waking up for a chat: John notes that a lazy man dozes at prayer and wakes up as soon as the talking starts. And prayer from habit, without attention. Better shorter with attention than longer without it.

The sign that you have climbed: your sleep is in order, you arrive at common prayer on time, and prayer is no longer something done in passing. John says whoever feels in the depth of his soul before whom he stands, stands like an unmoving pillar.

The question remains: once sleep is in order, what do you do with the quiet hours that are left?

N. Ž.