Distinctions within Contemplative Prayer Practices

I see two distinctions in the practice of Contemplative Prayer: presence/action and rest/reflection. Both categories or distinctions have an overlap of the disciplines that are incorporated in their practice.

1. Presence Action, in my opinion, embraces a more “real life” approach to contemplative prayer, and incorporates practices such as solitude, and unceasing prayer through active expressions. I am inspired by Frank Laubach’s experiments with various active forms of contemplative prayer including non-traditional exercises like daily hikes up Signal Hill, tennis matches where he put his body (and his opponents) under the control of God, and simply sitting near those he prayed for. In my opinion, Laubach was a master at incorporating the active life with classic contemplative disciplines like solitude and ceaseless prayer to create his own unique disciplines. Laubach sums up the presence action approach with these words, “Of all today’s miracles, the greatest is this: To know that I find Thee best when I work listening, not when I am still or meditative or even on my knees in prayer, but when I work listening and co-operating.” (SLW, p.44).

2. A Restful Reflection approach to contemplative prayer embraces the slow life and also incorporates many of the same disciplines such as solitude, and ceaseless prayer, but with stillness and rest as the primary mode of expression. This approach leans more heavily on the standard expressions of the desert fathers and mothers, and the more traditional labels and categories like stillness, fasting, and Jesus prayer. Nearly everything I’ve ever read by Nouwen carries with it this restful tone. Nouwen may summarize this side of the spectrum with these words, “The goal of our life is not people. It is God.” (Way of the Heart, p.40).

Bibliography: (see links under "currently reading")

Streams of Living Water, Richard Foster

The Way of The Heart, Henri Nouwen

Invitation to a Journey, M. Robert Mulholland Jr.

The Holy Longing: The Search for A Christian Spirituality, Ronald Rolheiser