Monday, August 22, 2011

A New Contemplative Seeker and A New Book

Greetings all,

I just wanted to drop a note about some of the things going on in my world in relation to contemplation. I have been meeting with a fellow United Methodist pastor for about a month doing some lectionary studies and discussion. Last week the topic of contemplation came up, and he informed me that he was interesting in mysticism and was reading some books about it. He told me that he had just started reading Richard Rohr's The Naked Now: Learning to See as the Mystics See. I immediately order a copy of the book, and we are meeting in the morning to talk about it and the core practices of Centering Prayer and Lectio Divina. I can't begin to express how excited I am to have a local colleague that is inquiring about this type of spirituality! Just when you feel like a lonely Elijah, you learn that the Spirit is actually at work in many, many places!

I'm only a third of the way into Rohr's book, but it has been very intriguing so far. Here is one quote that has jumped out at me: "Yes, the mind welcomes education, but it also needs to be uneducated, to learn how much of what it 'knows' is actually mere conditioning and prejudice." p. 56, I'm humbled by the realization of just how much unknowing I lack!

Peace sisters and brothers,
Mark

4 comments:

Daniel said...

Mark, thanks for sharing your excitement with us! Blessings on your dialogue! I'm looking forward to hearing Rohr speak in late October here in Portland.

living stones said...

Mark, I'm so glad you have another brother in the Lord to share your spiritual interests with, and it's great that he is local. I like the quote you chose: "...it (the mind) also needs to be uneducated, to learn how much of what it 'knows' is actually mere conditioning and prejudice." My first thought is ouch, but my second thought is hurray for the practice of letting go!

Daniel, how special that Richard Rohr is going to be in your neighborhood. I think it's pretty wonderful that you are planning on attending the meeting. (We'd love a Livingstones blog response from you about the Rhor gathering.) --Blessings, Anna

Paul T. Corrigan said...

Good to hear from both Mark and Daniel here! I am glad for the news from both of you--for Mark's fellow seeker and for Daniel's plans to hear Richard Rohr. To hear these encouragements from you is helpful for me on my spiritual journey. Thanks.

RC said...

Mark, how special that there in East Tennessee you've found a fellow Methodist minister who is interested in the mystical dimension of Christianity. What an important development. And it was a blessing Daniel back in our dialogue. I loved this last line of your post: "I'm humbled by the realization of just how much unknowing I lack!"
--Rickey

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