Posted by PS on March 11, 2002 at 20:09:26:
In Reply to: Re: Seeds of Contemplation posted by john on March 11, 2002 at 17:50:38:
: My only problem was I guess the perspective from which it was written. It really kept me from being able to grab hold of the book as one of my favorites. It was just so severe and ascetic. He seemed to operate from the principle that all flesh was evil and that anything of the flesh, even everyday pleasures were less desirable than pure thoughtless contemplation. Here I really disagree. I think that in movement and in art and in all aspects of existence God is equally present and that one can be just as Absorbed by Him in these things as in others.
WOW... I did not get that idea of Merton or the book at all. I have a number of his books, but this is not the message I ever got from this man. But you know what a cheerless ascetic I am. ;-) Quite seriously though, I have a hard time being contemplative during physical activity. I am drawn to seek God for who He is in Himself, that is to say, apart from how the dynamic of His Presence as realized in life's activities. This does not mean I don't think you can find God in everything, or that I eschew the wonder of this life. Neverthless, the level of conteplation I found most satisfying was apart from the reality of this physical sensual existence.