Switch off news, turn on prayer: advice from radio operator Paisios of Mount Athos

The science of good thoughts by Elder Paisios. Photo: UOJ

A constant dry hum fills my head. It isn’t the noise of the street, but the echo of hundreds of headlines that have passed through my mind over the course of the day. Reading news has long ceased to be just receiving information and has turned into an exhausting addiction. There is a feeling that if you let go of the smartphone for an hour, something irreparable will happen, and control over reality will be lost for good. But instead of control, all that settles in the soul is a paralyzing anxiety.

The modern information space drains the remaining strength. Consciousness becomes like an old receiver that has stopped catching a clear wave and only transmits endless static crackle.

In this chaos of sounds, the voice of God becomes almost inaudible.

To restore inner silence, one needs the experience of someone who knew how to tune the "equipment" of the spirit in even harsher conditions – under shelling and in the environment.

Radio on the soldier's shoulders

St. Paisios of Mount Athos understood the nature of panic professionally. During the Greek Civil War (1946–1949), he served as a military radio operator. The responsibility for communication between units lay on his shoulders. Arsenios Eznepidis, as the future elder was named, knew well: a radio message not received in time costs the life of an entire battalion.

The elder advises paying attention to the quality of reception in one's own heart. If the mind is filled to the brim with other people's opinions and videos from disaster sites, there is simply no entry for the Divine signal. St. Paisios emphasizes that spiritual life begins where unnecessary curiosity ends:

"A person must constantly ensure that his 'receiver' is tuned to the right wave. If thoughts are confused and the heart is filled with worldly concerns, he cannot receive Divine signals."

Justifying the news-addiction with the desire to "be in the picture", it is easy to miss the moment when information turns into poison. Curiosity about the details of world conspiracies works like a jammer. While the air is filled with gossip, God's will for a specific person at the current moment remains unrecognized. Life passes in anticipation of news, while the main Good News remains unclaimed.

The machine of good thoughts in action

Every frightening news causes an automatic reaction: condemnation or fear. It seems there is no other way. However, Paisios of Mount Athos offers a unique algorithm for processing any negativity, which he calls the "machine of good thoughts". The saint says that a person is called to change the very chemistry of his perception.

The elder instructs to use every news of pain as a reason for compassion, not for discussions. He teaches that the inner attitude can disarm any evil coming from outside. Venerable Paisios explains the mechanics of this process:

"The one who has good thoughts – whatever he sees, whatever he is told – activates the good thought. The entire spiritual life is based on thought. Our state depends on thought."

In practice, this means a ban on fruitless shuddering in front of the monitor. Any news of trouble should instantly become fuel for a short prayer. Instead of fiercely discussing the details of the tragedy in the comments, a Christian is called to quietly say: "Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on these people."

Thus, the notification feed turns into electronic prayer beads. The evil that was supposed to poison through the screen suddenly encounters the "machine of good thoughts" and becomes a prayerful sigh. This is the only way not to let darkness settle inside.

Information fast and time of silence

It's hard to admit, but the gadget has become more important than silence. There is a readiness to limit oneself in food, but giving up messengers for the evening seems like an unbearable sacrifice. However, without a voluntary "information fast", it is impossible to restore internal immunity. A radio operator on duty does not listen to music – he waits for a signal from the Center in full concentration.

The elder advises introducing "zones of silence" into life. Two hours without a screen are necessary for the soul to cool down from overheating. In silence comes the realization that the world continues to rotate by the will of the Creator, not by the will of anonymous channel authors. This is the space where the ability to hear God is restored. Venerable Paisios instructs us not to waste energy on empty worries about what does not depend on human will:

"God helps where human strength is lacking. If a person does not have a connection with God through prayer, where will he get help and strength?"

He urges us to focus on the main communication channel. Geronda emphasizes that panic is the result of a lack of trust in Heaven. If a person constantly checks the news, hoping to find guarantees of safety there, he only sinks deeper into the quagmire. The elder advises redirecting this attention inward:

"Trust in God is unceasing prayer. When a person entrusts himself to God, He then 'must' help him. God is a good Father, He never abandons His creation."

Connection with the Heavenly Headquarters

Often, there is a growing feeling in the soul that chaos is final and uncontrollable. A look at the map of conflicts only fixes the clash of blind forces. But for a believer, behind any historical noise stands Providence. Abba Paisios reminds us that panic is always a sign of poor connection with Headquarters.

Calmness in current conditions is not indifference, but fidelity to the post. When peace is maintained inside, a person becomes a transmitter of this peace to others. It's like the work of a radio operator who, through the crackle of interference, transmits the most important encryption: help is coming. The elder directly points to the root of all fears:

"Panic is a sign that a person relies only on his own strength and human knowledge, forgetting about the power of God," he says.

The saint calls us to become "spiritual communicators". In parting, the elder reminds us of the victory that has already been accomplished. He says that the joy of the Risen Christ should be stronger than any fear of tomorrow.

The smartphone screen in the pocket no longer seems so frightening. Every new notification can now become not a cause for concern, but a signal for a short prayer. We remain in touch with the Heavenly Headquarters.

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