Most would agree with the newspaper article I read today that stated “we live in a fraught and fractured time!” Signs of disorder, chaos, and collapse are everywhere. Distrust, disinterest, disharmony, dissonance shape many conversations and conflicts no matter where we are in the world. In this time of climate calamity and other crises is there hope to be found and lived? Is my life, illuminated by faith, a source of hope in troubled times?
Our congregation’s charism has three ‘energy centres’, if you will: contemplation, communion and mission. My mantra for this dynamism is: to see (contemplation) the oneness of all things (communion) and make it known (mission). In these dark days of discord and anxiety just what is it that I am ‘seeing?’ As things break apart where might they be coming together?
I have noticed in our day an expansion of the hunger and longing to live the contemplative journey more consciously. I know contemplation means different things to different people, even within our RNDM community. For me, it is not about wanting to be quiet all day. And it is not about showing us what to see or believe, but rather ‘how’ to see, as God sees – the oneness of things.
Regarding contemplation most spiritual teachers will insist on “finding a prayer form that actually invades our unconscious, or nothing changes at any depth”1. This may be a form of meditation, longer periods of inner silence, walking meditation, enneagram work, shadow work, or practising the art of surrender and letting go through great love and suffering. As a teacher of the contemplative practice known as Centering Prayer I am moved by the number people that come to the workshops and retreat days from various walks of life and traditions with a longing to deepen their oneness with the Divine and all that the Divine has created. Not in huge numbers perhaps but persistently they come; more like the gospel invitation to be the remnant, the seed, the yeast, the light of things; small enough to make a big difference. As people gather seeking a deeper unity in this time of disintegration, I feel hopeful.
The daring truth about contemplation is of course that the pray-er will be challenged and ultimately changed. My oft-unconscious craving to be right, to be successful, to be powerful (i.e. in control) will eventually give way to a deeper, more real freedom in the Love that certainly calls to us in this uncertain world. God’s tent has been pitched amongst us (John 1:14); is this not our reason for hope?
The good news about heeding the call to deepen a life of contemplation in these times is that it places us squarely in the mystery of a world that is both crucified and resurrected at the same time. This is a ‘way of seeing’ that is consoling, hopeful and inspires acts of justice. As Veronica encouraged us in last week’s post, “We were made for these times….”
Consider giving us readers a taste of the ‘oneness’ you see by writing it in the comment section below. I suspect we can create quite a list…
¹Rohr, Richard. The Universal Christ (New York, NY: Convergent Books, 2019), p. 222
Sandra Stewart is a member of the Sisters of Our Lady of the Missions in Winnipeg. Originally from Windsor, ON she has spent most of her religious life in Manitoba but has also served in France, Senegal and Papua New Guinea. She holds a Masters degree in Pastoral Studies from Loyola University in Chicago, majoring in spiritual accompaniment from the Institute for Spiritual Leadership.
Presently she serves as a spiritual director, a facilitator of Centering Prayer workshops, and an advocate for social and environmental justice.
Sandra currently serves on her community’s province leadership team in Canada.
Thank you for your reflections and invitation to share our “ taste of oneness”.
In Winnipeg I had gone one time to the soup kitchen at the United Church on Broadway. The minister, a woman, was inviting us to a time of Centering Prayer. I joined the circle of about ten people in the chapel. After a time of Centering Prayer, we were invited to share our reflections. One man said quietly “ in the silence we are all equal”. I tasted oneness that day.
In my community, we are blessed by gracious Elms that line our streets. Sadly and heart-breakingly, we have been watching them, season after season, succumb to the ravages of Dutch -Elm Disease. Many in my community have felt a visceral pain each time we hear the chain saws roar. I have read poems that people have written, seen hand crocheted scarves that people have tied in honour of their presence and ultimate passing. Many, along with myself feel we have lost a friend.
A moment of “one-ness” this Autumn: Four days ago, I was walking in my St. Boniface neighborhood. I looked up at the sky, and saw such beautiful cloud formations. Then I noticed all the birds in the sky, all across the sky, in every direction, carrying out their sky activities, without a sound I could detect. Flocking. One mass gathering of birds. They weren’t geese or ducks, which I see and hear often, but another kind(s) of bird(s), going about their autumnal practices. In that moment, felt such a connection with them. A whole world of activity I would have missed, had I not looked up.