Contemplation

Cultivating “being” with God distinct from talking to God. These are practices focused on being present to God’s Spirit in you and in the world. We encourage engaging in this type of presence via ancient practices like walking a labyrinth and contemplative prayers as well as learning from our own experiences by telling our stories. These are old practices that modern Christians are rediscovering. In them many are experiencing the gracious and merciful God they’ve longed for and are being animated to be gentle with themselves and others because of this encounter.

RESOURCES

Contemplative Resource Guide: A downloadable booklet with simple practices to engage.

Into the Silent Land by Martin Laird: A theoretical and practical introduction to contemplation.

Contemplative Prayer video, by Martin Laird (start on minute 7). A lecture that covers most of the content from Into the Silent Land

The Inner Experience by Thomas Merton: An introduction into exploring the interior life and Christian