Tasting Contemplation

My search for the abundant life

Over the last few years, 9 years give or take, I felt the growing and intense desire to live the life I talked about; spoke about, wrote about and described in sermons. This life, as I envisioned it, would be something akin to what Jesus called-the abundant life. This was a rich life; a deep life; an awake life; a life where I was more aware and alive.

This has required a giving up and an embracing. I gave up my work and I embraced a new work— to live a more intentional way of life. This is a way of rhythms; a way of slowing; and a way of realizing that the life I was seeking was also seeking me.

My work, calling, passion; the world’s needs— leader’s needs and perhaps my own ego and addictions to my work consumed me. I could not call myself a contemplative. I wanted this but I was too busy; too consumed; too engaged.

Ever since I met Dallas Willard, I wanted to live the life he described. But, I found it difficult.

I tried.

I trained.

I practiced.

I succeeded somewhat.

I failed a lot.

But now, I’m seeing a shift . I’m sensing more of what I wanted in the first place.

Perhaps, it has to do with my age. Perhaps it has to do with the fact I now have more time and time is my own to spend.

Perhaps I feel less rigid; more embracing; more of a loving and alive kind of man. I’m not quite sure.

But during this month of being in Greece, Italy and Holland with a part of our family, I have noticed myself noticing. Does that sound strange? Then let it.

To notice and to begin to notice is the key and clue of this path.

Then this morning, here in the morning sun of Greece; after eating the sweetest green melon for breakfast, I felt the sweetness of this abundance in life— the cool morning; the warmth of the sun reflecting on my face and this poem by David Whyte titled THE SUN.

Read it for yourself and see what you think.. see if you can relate to what I’m describing. I’ll also post a few pictures I’ve taken along the way in our time here. It’s been lovely!

… I want to walk   
through life   
amazed and inarticulate   
with thanks….  
I want to know   
when I lean down to the lilies   
by the water   
and feel their small and   
perfect reflection   
on my face….       
I want to know   
what I am   
and what I am    
involved with by loving   
this world   
as I do….  
I want to be found by love,   
… I want to come alive   
in the holiness   
of that belonging.

Do you see the Sun in each of these pictures. I did— when it was happening and even now.

I want this realization for my friends, family and especially my grandchildren. Perhaps it is, in the face and heart of a child that we return to what we have wanted all along.