The Center for Contemplative Practice
A Lay Cistercian Looks at Spiritual Reality
Month: August 2020
waiting for the master
This is a story I wrote many, many blogs ago but I think it needs repeating. WAITING FOR THE MASTERImagine yourself seated on a park bench in the dead ofwinter. Jesus has told you that He will be passing by thebench sometime soon. You… Continue Reading “waiting for the master”
THE SEDUCTION OF FALSE SILENCE AND SOLITUDE
One day, last week, wearing my mask, I went to Costco to buy some Kona Coffee (my favorite). In their famous food court, I watched a table of six teenagers sitting, eating either pizza or Costco’s famous hot dog and drink combo, or in… Continue Reading “THE SEDUCTION OF FALSE SILENCE AND SOLITUDE”
GOD IS NOT FAIR BUT HE IS JUST
My latest Lectio Divina(Philippians 2:5) took me to a place I had not visited before. Have you ever had a particularly complex dream in your sleep, then awoke with the strange feeling that everything you thought tooks hours, lasted only a few seconds? It… Continue Reading “GOD IS NOT FAIR BUT HE IS JUST”
YOU CAN’t BE CONTEMPLATIVE IN YOUR SPIRITUALITY BY YOURSELF
The Gathering of Lay Cistercians of Our Lady of the Holy Spirit Monastery.
HATERS ANONYMOUS
Almost everyone has heard of Alcoholics Anonymous and the 12 Step Plan. I thought about what is going on in our country now and how all of us could use the 12 Step Plan that Christ gave us to quell the hatred of others… Continue Reading “HATERS ANONYMOUS”
POWER AND GLORY
Who is the most powerful person you know? My answer is, my wife! To make it more specific, “What is the most powerful object in the universe?” I had to look it up on Google Search. Turns out that there is a Youtube video… Continue Reading “POWER AND GLORY”
moving from self to god…slowly but surely
Here is a blog post I made over a year ago. I had been thinking about using and applying Cistercian practices and seeking charisms. I had the thought that my monastery is not just the world, but confined to the limits I discover each… Continue Reading “moving from self to god…slowly but surely”
CHAPTER 4: rENOUNCE YOURSELF IN ORDER TO FOLLOW CHRIST
You would think that a person who has tried to follow the teachings of The Master for all these years (80, to be exact), would have mastery over his mind and body to be able to reach a state where he did not struggle… Continue Reading “CHAPTER 4: rENOUNCE YOURSELF IN ORDER TO FOLLOW CHRIST”
I HAVE HEART PROBLEMS
In keeping with seeking God daily in everything in every way, I have an appointment today at 2:20 p.m. with my Cardiologist to check my recently installed pacemaker. This discipline is now called electrophysiology and it looks at the heart from the viewpoint of… Continue Reading “I HAVE HEART PROBLEMS”
IF YOU ARE A ROOM…
One of my Lectio Divina meditations (Philippians 2:5) centered around an idea I have been romancing for some time– spiritual hoarding. Most of the people to whom I tell this idea discount it as being foolish. How can hoarding spirituality be bad? The way… Continue Reading “IF YOU ARE A ROOM…”
WHAT HELPS ME RECITE THE LITURGY OF THE HOURS?
FIVE PRACTICES THAT HAVE HELPED ME COMMIT TO PRAYING THE LITURGY OF THE HOURS When I think of prayer as part of my Lay Cistercian principles (silence, solitude, work, prayer, and community), I don’t see it apart from other prayers I do (e.g. Eucharist,… Continue Reading “WHAT HELPS ME RECITE THE LITURGY OF THE HOURS?”
THE GATHERING
My Lectio Divina today (Philippians 2:5) took me to a place I had not visited before. I thought about the very early Church and how they must have had a struggle to “have in them the mind of Christ Jesus.” I thought about my… Continue Reading “THE GATHERING”
how long can you hold your spiritual breath?
HOW LONG CAN YOU HOLD YOUR SPIRITUAL BREATH? When I was young and adventuresome, I tried holding my breath for as long as possible. It was all part of my preparation to be able to swim in the deep section of Rainbow Beach in… Continue Reading “how long can you hold your spiritual breath?”
SILENCE: THE ENTRANCE TO FOREVER
Whenever I think of silence, I mean real silence, I think about going into a cave in Northern Florida. The absence of any noise is deafening. All humans relate to the reality before them through the five senses which feed the brain and direct… Continue Reading “SILENCE: THE ENTRANCE TO FOREVER”
wonder-filled resources that fill up the emptiness of my heart while i age in place.
I use these resources nearly every week to help me fill in the big holes in my life due to COVID-19 and the hatred our culture seems to have for one another. Using the analogy of a room, each of us has a room… Continue Reading “wonder-filled resources that fill up the emptiness of my heart while i age in place.”
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