My article on “The Practice of Contemplation as Witness and Resistance” has been published in the October 2007 issue of The Way (a journal of contemporary spirituality published by the British Jesuits). They have been behind in their production because of the editor’s illness, but the issue is now available. Click on the link above to read the article.
I also just ran across one of my absolute favorites of the Peanuts comics — it was very tempting to follow Charlie Brown’s lead during those long years in graduate school and it still holds lots of appeal! I think Tune would embrace this wholeheartedly:
Okay, back to my blog sabbatical . . . :-) See you in August!
-Christine Valters Paintner @ Abbey of the Arts
16 Responses
Have a wonderful time away!!!
Thanks dear friends, it is such a treat to check in during my travels and find your wonderful and supportive words. Glad the article is providing some food for the journey.
Suz, no worries, there is much playfulness and “shallowness” to complement the depth and work of this trip! :-)
hello! dropped by to see what is new in your neck of the woods (virtual world) and really enjoyed your posting of peanuts. hope all is well and to see you around soon!
peace,
maria
Christine, I thoroughly enjoyed the essay. Thank you for posting it. I will be passing it around to people for whom I hope it will have meaning. I think about, in particular, the way in which churches are now locked. When I do go to Mass, I go very early just so I can sit in that space and that quiet. Though more and more, people treat that before-Mass time as a social hour, and that saddens me deeply. We are missing out on much when we forget that an integral part of prayer is listening — just like in any relationship. I find Quakerism surely attractive for their emphasis on that; but, alas, I need, very much need, the ritual and symbolism that is the worship aspect of Mass, not to mention the profound reminder contained within the Eucharist. And thank you, too, for reminding us (as Merton does so often) that our purpose here is simply to be/become who we are.
What a treat! Just chanced to stop by and I am snickering and chortling at the cartoon. Have a meaningful journey but don’t forget to be a little shallow along the way… (I am not too worried!).
I miss you and your blog but am so glad you are getting this break.
Big hugs!!!
Words offering themselves up as treasures for me, Christine, with this surprise post, your article – which I will devour more times than a first read – as well as the comments by Miss Eagle: sitting in silence, in community, has been beckoning me, and I have taken her words as an opportuniy to find a Meeting House in my locale; I look forward to experiencing this way of worhip.
Blessings all around…..
*smile* *snort* *sigh* *more snorting*
this is classic, Christine! just returned from a 3-hour play date with my two pups and my friend and her two pups. the life of dogs and their humans does go alot like this! appreciate the heads up on the article … will enjoy the read to be sure . . .
happy trails to you . . .
thanks lucy!
Thank you too Miss Eagle, I appreciate what you say about the Friends tradition and acknowledge fully that other denominations get this aspect of spiritual practice better than others, speaking from primarily the Catholic tradition. I didn’t address the Quakers, because I do not live inside that tradition, but sounds like they are worthy of a lot of consideration in this regard.
Thank you for this, Christine. I will be giving it quite a bit of a dissemination and links on The Eagle Nest and Desert. I would remark, though, that much of what you say has been practised – and as witness and resistance – by the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) since the middle of the seventeenth century. I believe that the genius of the Quaker Meeting for Worship is the emphasis not just on individual practice but the corporate nature of the practice. I believe that this sets it apart from traditional contemplative practice in the Catholic tradition which seems to be regarded, for the most part, as individual practice. The silent gathering of Friends is regarded as central to the Society and central to life itself. From this centrality of silence and worship has come a unique and prophetic dynamic on so many fronts – peace, human rights, simplicity to name a few.
Blessings and bliss
c–i look forward to reading the article and will savor it as a connection to your words while you are away :-)
thinking of you much as you finish up the preparations for your leaving. blessings and traveling mercies to you, dear friend. you will be in my thoughts and prayers along your journey. (tune, too.) xoxooxoxoxoxo