"The pious (Orthodox/Catholic) believer knows firsthand that Jesus is his Savior, but the drowning man does not cry out to the lifeguard, "Intercede for me!"
This quote actually puzzles me. Our side also says that we know firsthand that Christ is our savior. Further, we say the saving (within time) is already done for knowing members of the elect. We are the ones who claim confidence. It would seem that if any side would feel "free" to spread around the prayers, it would be ours. Yet, our faith says to never do this because only God is deserving of our prayers.
Without assurance, and since prayer and other deeds are part and parcel to your salvation/theosis, I would think you would be LESS likely to deviate your direct attention away from God and onto Mary and the Saints.
"Without assurance, and since prayer and other deeds are part and parcel to your salvation/theosis, I would think you would be LESS likely to deviate your direct attention away from God and onto Mary and the Saints."
And yet for 2000+/- we have prayed to the saints and the Theotokos to intercede for us, as people have asked their friends to pray for them for at least as long(leaving aside the implications contained in a loaded term like deviate!). :)