Definitions #03 The Relationship between Discursive & Contemplative Prayer
What I have been learning (and experiencing) is that these two kinds of prayer (discursive & contemplative) are not polar opposites. In fact, they are emeshed. True discursive prayer is a vehicle for contemplation. God is drawing us into His presence as we pray. He is hoping we will acknowedge Him as He is while we pour out all our requests. He longs for us to open ourselves to His deeper love, deeper grace, deeper forgiveness, and deeper call to holiness.
However as life happens, we are so busy that we fail to connect with God in contemplative ways. We are worried about life, money, our fears, our education and a thousand other less significant things—you name it and so our prayers are incomplete. They lack the profound depth that they could have.
From the moment we are born we are in the process of growing. I like how Kelly Nemick puts it “this side of death spiritual genesis is a slow, all embracing process. Every person, event, and circumstance of our daily life contributes to that process. We are transformed inch by inch, drop by drop” (The Mystical Presence, 20).
The question is, “What are we being transformed into?”
God longs for us to be transformed into his nature—that we might be contemplative beings. So buried in the background of everday existence, God is singing a silent note. Tuning us little by little into persons that are more aware of Him. Do you believe that? Do you believe that God is working all over your life so that you might be more consciously aware of Him?
Another idea—at specific points in our life, we cross thresholds. Our expereinces, life with God (or apart from Him), our friends, our marriage, our children, our education carry us to new places. Again to quote Nemick “a threshold occurs when the interior forces of convergence become so concentrated that they produce a breakthrough, a new and improved mode of being” (Mystical Presence, 20).
Has that happened to you? Have experiences and life catapulted you to a new appreciation for God?
What is new in all of this for me is the integrated character of the discursive and the contemplative life. What I see now is that God has been pulling me forward toward a life with Him and that I haven’t really surrendered to that drawing power. But where I am now, I see it and I’m amazed.
I also believe now more than ever that it takes silence (or solitude) to grow our contemplative senses. But as they activate, we can become more conscious of God around us all the time.
So thanks for reading. What do you think? Tell me about your experience of the contemplative life. Is it anything like what I’ve described here or does what I’ve written leave you with more questions?
In a way, I hope it does. Questions are healthy I think.
Jason,
I do so appreciate and number of things.
First of all…what a blessing you are to us all. I love the manner in which you both instruct and lead us as well as the content of your lessons. I find a deep and very rich blessing each time I particpate in your classes and hear your lessons.
That being said…I am profoundly thankful for these lessons on prayer. I was well aware of the discursive concepts in prayer. As you have said it is something that is taught and commonly done in all assemblies. But I was unaware of the contemplated idea…unaware that it had a name, but very very aware of it’s exisitance and power.
Years ago in fulltime work in Fargo, ND I was exhausted and burned out with doing stuff…classes, Bible studies, sermons, door-knocking, bus ministry, hospital chaplain, visiting jails…action, action, action! Then a newly baptized but deeply spiritually wise brother with deep roots in Lutheranism challeneged me to stop and just pray. We met early in the am in a 50 degree church basement in the ND winter. After a time of discurvise list praying I ran out of stuff to ask, thank, praise Him for. Walt told me to just sit and imagine youself standing before “The Presence” and “watch” what was going on. It was an odd thing for a church of Christ person to do but I did. And I am amazed at what I feel, see, hear, and become as He draws me in a wordless, non-verbal way to become more like Him. What a joy it has been!
So thank you for giving that process a “name” and validating my experience with Him!
Bless you…a thousand times over!
e