Contemplative prayer feels like no thing. It is the practice of being still and knowing that God is God. God is the ground of my being. God is the center of my existence. While these thoughts may be possible in a personal, private, devotional practice, for me, they were more transformative because I experienced them in community.
Nothing prepared me for my first visit to the Taizé community in France. Nothing prepared me for the mystical power of sitting cross-legged in worship with thousands of fellow pilgrims. Time suspended itself. Tears fell. We sat in silence for at least 20 minutes each time we gathered. Between contemplative prayer and worship, we shared Bible studies, walks in nature, communal chores, meals and visits with the sisters and brothers living there. It helped me integrate contemplative prayer worship experiences with real life tasks, so much so that I understood Paul’s instruction to “pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17).
This message is excerpted from “In the stillness” by Betty E. Landis in the July/August 2018 Gather magazine.
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