Tapsearch Com EditorContemplation and Action - and the Stranger in the Night
March 2nd 2008 01:58
In prayer, I wrote the following in a very short time about 40 years ago - I sent it to an English prof to rewrite it for me but after a long period of time, he sent it back and said he could not do it without losing the context. And so I copy here for you to rewrite it based on who you are.
Contemplation versus Action
Action and contemplation - with contemplation being defined as just being in quiet wait for union with God - have always been as some sort of odds with each other. The two are not always the same in spiritual quests by a person or a body. Yet, the two can not be separated. A balance must be reached. There is a Martha and Mary in each of and in any body of Christians but the emphasis of one over the other seems to short circuit each other in the quest of Jesus exposed in our lives. The least we can do is to recognize different tendencies in each other and different bodies of Christians. Below is arranged something of a comparison associated with these areas. Rather than being exacting, the comparison is made to show all those searching for union with God why the other person or body is the way they are. In most cases, these comparisons are hidden ideals rather than actual states of being but we can get into each others souls if we are ready to take the other person or body in our hearts and love. It is difficult to type the passive and active approach to the quest of Jesus in our lives but we can gain impresssions of otherswho ultimately know it is Jesus who lives in others who try to be holy imitating Him.
A. is ..... TO BE - CONTEMPLATION - PASSIVE SPIRIT
OR
B. is .....TO DO - ACTION -ACTIVE SPIRIT
A. Joins the moment in quiet leisure with his Beloved in the "Sacrament of the Moment.
B. Acts to have moment worthy of set final goals.
A. Loves the object of love wholly for its own sake ultimately.
B. Demonstrates love to show it to be a worthwhile endeavor.
A. Stay in quiet union with the object of love as the moment allows without attempts to extend it.
B. Extends the union of the object of love to others quickly so they may have it too.
A. Statisfied with the quest of the moment
B. Has call or mission to be sent out.
A. Freedom of self through abandonment and providence.
B. Freedom of self by active purgation.
A. Try for the acceptance of death to self as an actuality in spite of contrary evidence.
B. Continued attempts and selections to dying to self in noted problem areas that are
indentified.
A. Prayer is principally felt interiorly.
B. Prayer in common is stressed as best.
A. Delight in the Lord in secret even in the midst of a crowd.
B. Seeks delight in the Lord through common celebration.
A. Never more in perfect community then when alone with He who is Love.
B. Perfect communion is personified by Love in common in horizontal relationships.
A. God ultimately does all.
B. Man plays a part in his own salvation.
A. Tendency to reflect and dwell on the past in support of the present moment.
B. Tendency to reflect and organize the future for support of the present moment.
Reminder: A. stands for Contemplation and B. stands for Action.
A. Tendency to exhaust and abstract a single effort at a time towards union with Christ.
B. Tendency to try many new efforts at one time towards union with Christ.
A. Tendency to avoid rules and methods as cosmetic efforts in growth in Christ.
B. Tendency to find methods and common rules to have a scale to measure growth in Christ.
A. Reaches out to the unknown more readily
B. Desires to have a handle on all things.
A. Allows deep intense relationships and partialities as God loves a single soul.
B. Avoids exclusive relationships and trys to love all in Christ.
A. Gifts of understanding and wisdom are predominate.
B. Gifts of counsel, fortitude and fear of Lord are more predominate.
A. Trys to love way out of negative situation.
B. Trys to think way out of a negative situation.
A. Excludes all things repugnant.
B. Adds all things that are good.
A. Providential
B. Must do your part.
A. Proof of personal love is worthless compared to Love of Christ that is total.
B. Must try to emulate the actions of Christ's Love by service.
A. See God in all as an end to sin and poverty knowing we must finally Love God without using the sinner or poor to get to Him.
B. Looks to the sinner and the poor as means of serving Christ. Virtue is there for all by bringing others to Christ and giving all.
Please note again that A stands for Contemplation and B for Action.
I pray this serves you in some way in your quest for the Lord and his Perfect Love and Community in Him. He is the Stranger in Night waiting for you.
Contemplation versus Action
Action and contemplation - with contemplation being defined as just being in quiet wait for union with God - have always been as some sort of odds with each other. The two are not always the same in spiritual quests by a person or a body. Yet, the two can not be separated. A balance must be reached. There is a Martha and Mary in each of and in any body of Christians but the emphasis of one over the other seems to short circuit each other in the quest of Jesus exposed in our lives. The least we can do is to recognize different tendencies in each other and different bodies of Christians. Below is arranged something of a comparison associated with these areas. Rather than being exacting, the comparison is made to show all those searching for union with God why the other person or body is the way they are. In most cases, these comparisons are hidden ideals rather than actual states of being but we can get into each others souls if we are ready to take the other person or body in our hearts and love. It is difficult to type the passive and active approach to the quest of Jesus in our lives but we can gain impresssions of otherswho ultimately know it is Jesus who lives in others who try to be holy imitating Him.
A. is ..... TO BE - CONTEMPLATION - PASSIVE SPIRIT
OR
B. is .....TO DO - ACTION -ACTIVE SPIRIT
A. Joins the moment in quiet leisure with his Beloved in the "Sacrament of the Moment.
B. Acts to have moment worthy of set final goals.
A. Loves the object of love wholly for its own sake ultimately.
B. Demonstrates love to show it to be a worthwhile endeavor.
A. Stay in quiet union with the object of love as the moment allows without attempts to extend it.
B. Extends the union of the object of love to others quickly so they may have it too.
A. Statisfied with the quest of the moment
B. Has call or mission to be sent out.
A. Freedom of self through abandonment and providence.
B. Freedom of self by active purgation.
A. Try for the acceptance of death to self as an actuality in spite of contrary evidence.
B. Continued attempts and selections to dying to self in noted problem areas that are
indentified.
A. Prayer is principally felt interiorly.
B. Prayer in common is stressed as best.
A. Delight in the Lord in secret even in the midst of a crowd.
B. Seeks delight in the Lord through common celebration.
A. Never more in perfect community then when alone with He who is Love.
B. Perfect communion is personified by Love in common in horizontal relationships.
A. God ultimately does all.
B. Man plays a part in his own salvation.
A. Tendency to reflect and dwell on the past in support of the present moment.
B. Tendency to reflect and organize the future for support of the present moment.
Reminder: A. stands for Contemplation and B. stands for Action.
A. Tendency to exhaust and abstract a single effort at a time towards union with Christ.
B. Tendency to try many new efforts at one time towards union with Christ.
A. Tendency to avoid rules and methods as cosmetic efforts in growth in Christ.
B. Tendency to find methods and common rules to have a scale to measure growth in Christ.
A. Reaches out to the unknown more readily
B. Desires to have a handle on all things.
A. Allows deep intense relationships and partialities as God loves a single soul.
B. Avoids exclusive relationships and trys to love all in Christ.
A. Gifts of understanding and wisdom are predominate.
B. Gifts of counsel, fortitude and fear of Lord are more predominate.
A. Trys to love way out of negative situation.
B. Trys to think way out of a negative situation.
A. Excludes all things repugnant.
B. Adds all things that are good.
A. Providential
B. Must do your part.
A. Proof of personal love is worthless compared to Love of Christ that is total.
B. Must try to emulate the actions of Christ's Love by service.
A. See God in all as an end to sin and poverty knowing we must finally Love God without using the sinner or poor to get to Him.
B. Looks to the sinner and the poor as means of serving Christ. Virtue is there for all by bringing others to Christ and giving all.
Please note again that A stands for Contemplation and B for Action.
I pray this serves you in some way in your quest for the Lord and his Perfect Love and Community in Him. He is the Stranger in Night waiting for you.
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