One of the
classes I teach is called “Contemplative Spirituality.” But for me, it is more than a course. For me it is aspirational. That means I aspire to become a
contemplative. It is a goal in my
life. Contemplative spirituality is more
than a body of knowledge that students and Religion professors can choose to
learn. Contemplative spirituality is
about a way of life---a way of looking at life.
So when I grow up, I want to be a contemplative.
I realize
this is not a word used in typical conversations in our world. Many people do not even know what the word
means. And if they know what the word
means, it might seem normal to assign it to the monks and mystics in the
world. Ordinary people do not aspire to
become contemplatives. So once again, I
am abnormal!
Let’s begin
by finding out what contemplation means.
Rather than coming with my own definition, let me cite the words of the
20th century monk, Thomas Merton.
But just because it comes from the pen of a monk does not mean it is
solely for monks and abnormal people like me.
Merton tells us “Contemplation is the highest expression of man’s
intellectual and spiritual life. It is
that life itself, fully awake, fully active, fully aware that it is alive. It is spiritual wonder. It is spontaneous awe at the sacredness of
life, of being. It is a vivid
realization of the fact that life and being in us proceed from an invisible,
transcendent and infinitely abundant Source.
Contemplation is, above all, awareness of the reality of that Source.” This is a long quotation, so let’s break it
down.
Merton
contends that contemplation is the highest achievement of being human. I am sure there are many who would scoff and
laugh at this assertion. I happen to
think he is correct, but let’s pursue the matter further. It is interesting to me that he does not
initially assert that contemplation is religion. Of course, for many of us it will be associated
with being religious, or preferably for me, spiritual. Instead, Merton hooks contemplation with
life. I like that.
Merton says
that contemplation is life itself. But
it is a special kind of life. It is life
fully awake, fully active, and fully alive.
This is the reason I want to become contemplative. I want to live fully awake. I get tired of sleepwalking through the
days. I don’t want to “wake up” a few
years down the road and wonder what I did or why I did it! We all know that when we are asleep, we miss
things. I want to be wide-awake. Becoming contemplative will help me know how
to do this.
I suspect
many of us live under the illusion that we are awake. Of course, we are not literally asleep. But figuratively we are asleep. We don’t see the subtleties of life. We don’t see the hues in life’s colors. We miss the music to focus on the noise. We talk too much and listen too little. If I am fully awake, then I have a chance to
be fully active and fully alive. That’s
what I want.
Merton
intrigues me when he says contemplation is spiritual wonder. I think I know what this means, but I am not
sure. I fear I only have a hint of what
he means. I am guessing I will not know
the depth of spiritual wonder if I don’t become contemplative. I suspect wonder is not simply something we
look at. I think spiritual wonder is the
ability to participate in and deeply appreciate the wonder that is ours. And perhaps the most wonderful thing is the
gift of life, the grace of love, and the lure of community.
This does
lead to Merton’s next step in the contemplative life. The contemplative is able to experience the
spontaneous awe at the sacredness of life.
I am sure that I will never have this awe if I just live life normally. If I don’t become contemplative, I doubt that
I will have any sense that life is sacred.
I will be content to live in the profanity of routine. That does not mean routine is wrong or
immoral; it is just not sacred.
Having
mentioned the sacred takes us to the heart of the matter. To become a contemplative is to be aware of
the reality of the Source, as Merton calls it.
For many of us the Source will be the same as God. Again, awareness is the key. Awareness takes
into account what already is there. We
don’t create God; we become aware of God.
It is a
simple calling, namely, to become contemplative. It is not a job; it is not even a
mission. It is a way of life. It is a way of living fully aware, fully
active, fully alive. I cannot imagine
anything better.
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