Thursday, April 22, 2021

Nouwen Meditation: Stay Awake

2021 marks the 25th anniversary of the death of Henri Nouwen. To commemorate and celebrate his remarkable life and work, the Henri Nouwen Society is pleased to announce the Henri Nouwen & the Art of Living online conference, June 4th - 5th. Join us for this special event!

DAILY MEDITATION | APRIL 22, 2021
Stay Awake
The practice of contemplative prayer is the discipline by which we begin to “see” the living God dwelling in our own hearts. Careful attentiveness to the One who makes a home in the privileged center of our being gradually leads to recognition. As we come to know and love the Father of our hearts we give ourselves over to this incredible Presence who takes possession of all our senses. By the discipline of prayer we are awakened and opened to God within, who enters into our heartbeat and our breathing, into our thoughts and emotions, our hearing, seeing, touching, and tasting. It is by being awake to this God within that we also find the Presence in the world around us. Here we are again in front of the secret. It is not that we see God in the world, but that God-with-us recognizes God in the world. God speaks to God, Spirit speaks to Spirit, heart speaks to heart.

Contemplation, therefore, is a participating in the divine self-recognition. The divine Spirit alive in us makes our world transparent for us and opens our eyes to the presence of the divine Spirit in all that surrounds us. It is with our heart of hearts that we see the heart of the world. . . .
"My mouth is filled with your praise, declaring your splendor all day long."

PSALM 71:8 (NIV)
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