Recently, I began re-reading a book I had to read my first year of seminary, by the late Trapist monk, Thomas Merton (1915-1968). The book, New Seeds of Contemplation, is an updated and expanded version of one of the most popular of the seventy books that Merton wrote. Fifteen years ago, I did not want to read this book. At the time, I could not understand why an evangelical, Protestant seminary was requiring me to read a book written by a Catholic priest! However, I read the text and completed my assignment, which included a summary on each chapter and my response to Merton's thoughts.
Typically, when reading theological and devotional books, I write in the margins or the last page of the chapters, in order to dialogue with the author and reflect upon the themes at a later time. As I began my second reading of the book, I reviewed my comments, and realized that it impacted me more than what I had thought or wanted to admit! In reading Merton's book, I was challenged for the first time to not only learn about the facts of the Bible and Christianity, but to consider the deep mysteries of faith, while embracing the struggles of the contemplative life.
As is suggested by the title, Seeds of Contemplation was Merton's attempt to encourage Western Christians to contemplate and consider more deeply the spiritual life. While Merton studied Eastern religions like Buddhism and Hinduism, he remained committed to Christian doctrine, but was impressed with the discipline of meditation those other religions employed.
A student of Eastern religions knows their desired outcome of meditation is to empty oneself of the world and escape the reality of its evils. In contrast to these outcomes, Merton is clear about his view of contemplation: "Let none hope to find in contemplation an escape from conflict, from anguish or from doubt. On the contrary, the deep, inexpressible certitude of the contemplative experience awakens a tragic anguish and opens many questions in the depths of the heart like wounds that cannot stop bleeding."
Today, many are trying to escape reality through such avenues as exotic vacations, video games, cyber-relationships and constant activity. The harsh realities of our world are often too much for some as they attempt to engage with life just enough to make money and then escape into some type of mental or physical recreation. No wonder that yoga and other meditative classes and activities are so popular; people want a break from the world because they do not know how to deal with it!
A contemplative Christian is one who does not escape the realities of our world, but rather engages with it. While many critics of our faith point to evil and injustice as "evidence" against a loving, all-powerful God, the contemplative Christian recognizes those realities do exist and are part of life's tapestry, which can lead to a fuller understanding of existence and a deeper experience with God.
Thomas Merton was a unique Christian. By vocation, he was a monk who lived a life of seclusion and asceticism in a monastery in western Kentucky. He was not married, did not have children, nor did he have to commute to work and deal with traffic and continual road repairs. His life was dedicated to the reflection of the spiritual, while he was often isolated from the realities of the physical. However, Merton's books continue to be popular among Christians, and non-Christians, who are looking for a way to be in the world, but not of it.
On the night of his arrest, Jesus prayed, "My prayer is not that you take them [his disciples] out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one (John 17:15)." From the time of his original disciples, to the modern church today, it was never God's plan to remove Christians from the world, but rather to empower us to engage with it.
So, how prepared are you to engage your world? How much contemplation and meditation have you given to the truths of our faith? When you are practicing the Christian disciplines are you doing so in order to appease a guilty conscience, impress others with your spiritual "maturity," or to understand more fully the application of our faith in world that will always need Christ?
Think about it.
Typically, when reading theological and devotional books, I write in the margins or the last page of the chapters, in order to dialogue with the author and reflect upon the themes at a later time. As I began my second reading of the book, I reviewed my comments, and realized that it impacted me more than what I had thought or wanted to admit! In reading Merton's book, I was challenged for the first time to not only learn about the facts of the Bible and Christianity, but to consider the deep mysteries of faith, while embracing the struggles of the contemplative life.
As is suggested by the title, Seeds of Contemplation was Merton's attempt to encourage Western Christians to contemplate and consider more deeply the spiritual life. While Merton studied Eastern religions like Buddhism and Hinduism, he remained committed to Christian doctrine, but was impressed with the discipline of meditation those other religions employed.
A student of Eastern religions knows their desired outcome of meditation is to empty oneself of the world and escape the reality of its evils. In contrast to these outcomes, Merton is clear about his view of contemplation: "Let none hope to find in contemplation an escape from conflict, from anguish or from doubt. On the contrary, the deep, inexpressible certitude of the contemplative experience awakens a tragic anguish and opens many questions in the depths of the heart like wounds that cannot stop bleeding."
Today, many are trying to escape reality through such avenues as exotic vacations, video games, cyber-relationships and constant activity. The harsh realities of our world are often too much for some as they attempt to engage with life just enough to make money and then escape into some type of mental or physical recreation. No wonder that yoga and other meditative classes and activities are so popular; people want a break from the world because they do not know how to deal with it!
A contemplative Christian is one who does not escape the realities of our world, but rather engages with it. While many critics of our faith point to evil and injustice as "evidence" against a loving, all-powerful God, the contemplative Christian recognizes those realities do exist and are part of life's tapestry, which can lead to a fuller understanding of existence and a deeper experience with God.
Thomas Merton was a unique Christian. By vocation, he was a monk who lived a life of seclusion and asceticism in a monastery in western Kentucky. He was not married, did not have children, nor did he have to commute to work and deal with traffic and continual road repairs. His life was dedicated to the reflection of the spiritual, while he was often isolated from the realities of the physical. However, Merton's books continue to be popular among Christians, and non-Christians, who are looking for a way to be in the world, but not of it.
On the night of his arrest, Jesus prayed, "My prayer is not that you take them [his disciples] out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one (John 17:15)." From the time of his original disciples, to the modern church today, it was never God's plan to remove Christians from the world, but rather to empower us to engage with it.
So, how prepared are you to engage your world? How much contemplation and meditation have you given to the truths of our faith? When you are practicing the Christian disciplines are you doing so in order to appease a guilty conscience, impress others with your spiritual "maturity," or to understand more fully the application of our faith in world that will always need Christ?
Think about it.
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