Thoughts About Contemplative Christianity

Contemplative Christianity is becoming one with God and all of Creation, not through my own control but by opening my heart to an inner transformation given by the divine will. When Christianity talks about purity of the heart, I believe it is referring to the seeking and the experience of this transformation. It starts with embodying the love of God in my engagement with the world and letting go of my love for personal gratification and defensiveness that always wants to maintain a separation between me and others. Only with this practice is a communion with God possible. Despite the sense that my own agency is present in this practice, it is not something that I expect to be able to do with just my own effort. Although it involves a personal struggle, I know that moments of love toward and unguarded intimacy with the world come to me when I least expect them. They are moments of grace and all I can do is to keep my mind alert and heart open to noticing them. To not turn away at a time of discomfort or vulnerability–that is the effort that calls for utmost courage and everything else that happens is a gift.