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Spring has sprung, in fact, summer has come (at least in the western hemisphere!). This is my favourite time of the year, with leaves and blossoms, plants and projects unfolding at a rate of knots. I become more and more convinced that there is a real urgency to bridge-build between the edge and the hub, the seashore and the city, the green and the grit. Some of the best exemplars of the Judaeo-Christian tradition, from Jesus onwards, have been able to hold in creative tension service and solitude, concern for the poor and the marginalized, together with care for the earth and the quiet appreciation of beauty. We are called to go and do likewise.
How can we better honour and uphold this interweaving of compassion and contemplation, this paradox of presence? This is where two resources can be profoundly helpful: firstly, a spiritual mentor or director; secondly, an authentic commitment to a rhythm of life shared within a community of travelling companions.
Three Questions: through either or both of these resources, each of us can justifiably be asked three questions: a) how much time am I giving to interiority, prayer in the presence of God? b) how much time each day or week am I allotting to the study of Spirit-breathed scripture and /or illuminating spiritual or insightful texts, to the deep attentiveness to pieces of music or art? c) what is the level of my commitment to seek out ways in which joy and hope, creativity and the capacity to celebrate can be translated into communities, sub-cultures and families where the predominant emotion is one of despair or alienation?
The trinitarian dynamic of prayer, study and action, identified above, is challenging and essential. The pragmatic interweaving of these three form the pattern of belonging and belief that is community in Christ. This is mystical engagement, contemplative discipleship, dying to self and being filled with God. This is when the deepest self is given space and fuel to be fully alive to God.
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I too feel called to and find it much easier to take time off to listen and feel and experience reality, but am simply at the edges yet. I can now practise the presence in Brother Lawrence fashion, enjoying a sacred moment of leaves in sunshine or children laughing; they are brief moments but inform my life far beyond the moment. it is a hard but rewarding task to undo the action-is-all ethic.
Comment by susan bowden-pickstock May 11, 2007 @ 3:41 pmFor the past 2 years I have been journeying towards the contempletive life. I now find myself in an extreamly trying time and have found that the hallowing of each moment has enabled me to deal with things that in previous times I would just have walked away from. Jesus is more tangibly there in each moment. I am finding that it is because of the interiority of my walk with Christ that the outward walk of compassion is made possible. Without it, without Him, I have no hope of real compassion.
Comment by Nicky Matthews May 13, 2007 @ 9:13 aminteriority is a challenge for us in our materialistic ‘outside’ culture, a crucial step to truly holistic living, but it is also crucial (cross shaped)to marry that with care for the marginalised and how can a new community like CF do that? Are we doing it at all yet?
Comment by susan BP August 9, 2007 @ 7:12 amThis is my first post
Comment by jameswillisisthebest September 8, 2007 @ 10:36 pmjust saying HI
Thank you for your blog posts Philip. Creative and inspiring. I look forward to more. I like all the stuff about paradox, prayer, study and action and love your incredible amount of networking and promotion of stillness and creativity. I shall tap into your energies for my spiritual mentoring if I may! Anna
Comment by Anna Lubelska May 27, 2009 @ 11:44 am