further on in the book "Breakaway"

Hello, companion readers,

This book is actually very enjoyable. The author, Mark Link, seems to me to be passionately interested in the subject of prayer and read a lot about what other people say about prayer (just like us reading his book). After bouncing up and down through the book, reflecting and feeling and so forth, the different ideas of how to pray, when to pray, where to pray, in what posture, praying from print, praying from memory, praying out loud, praying for others, praying the Bible, conversing, praying with others, the last two pages of the book are absolutely delicious.

"The Three Hermits" is a Russian folk tale about three monks living on an island. According to Leo Tolstoy, who tells the story, they were so simple, their only prayer was:

"We are three;
you are three;
have mercy on us."

Miracles sometimes occurred during the prayer.

When the bishop heard about the monks, he went to visit them. He hoped to teach them to pray in a more appropriate way.

After he had finished instructing the monks, the bishop set sail again for the mainland. Suddenly, he saw a ball of light chasing his boat. It was the three monks running across the water.

When they reached the boat, they said: "We have forgotten a part of your instruction and want to check it with you."

The bishop shook his head humbly and said: "Forget what I taught you and continue to pray in your old way."

Prayer is a mystery and Mark Link's final pages in his book are certainly a good surprising ending. I got a big chuckle out of it and maybe you are chuckling too.

God bless,
Sharon