I was trying to catch-up on some reading, sifting through my file folders of various articles that I have collected over the years. Suddenly, I found myself reflecting on an excerpt from The Merton Institute for Contemplative Living on living a contemplative life. I found it to be very enlightening and inspiring.
Contemplative living is living in a true relationship with self, God, others, and nature. With our relationships, through which we discern what is important, what we value, what we decide to do or not to do, we begin to see the external influences for what they really are. When our relationships become our standard of measurement, we connect our inner, spiritual life and our external active life. Our everyday life becomes our contemplative spiritual life.
Daily awareness of these relationships has many positive effects. It deepens our understanding of who we are and what activities are important. It helps us to keep our relationships in balance and to recognize the obstacles to better relationships. Because when relationships are ‘true,’ we experience how deeply connected we are to God, others, and nature. As Thomas Merton wrote:
“We are already one. But we imagine that we are not. And what we have to recover is our original unity. What we have to be is what we already are.”
As we reflect on this, we should find ourselves yearning to learn more in order for us to live more fully.
This concept of contemplative living is a radical change in how we approach life. Instead of the media, society, or someone else telling us what is important or what should be valued, we decide based on our relationship with God, others, and nature. It truly spins everything around from the way we live today. It is a reversal of thinking from the head to thinking from the heart.
It is clear that this would be the proper way to live. The question is: how difficult will it be to for us to change?
Lord Jesus, let us see the way to live a contemplative life. May we be able to live in relationship with you, others, nature, and even ourselves. Give us the strength to live according to your Word and not be swayed by external distractions. Let our everyday life become our spiritual life. Amen!
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