A Historic Church with Today's Values

Dear Friends,

“The wonderful thing about meditation, the spiritual journey into the cave of the heart, is that once we have taken each successive step of faith and the light has shone in that dark place, we are enlightened.” Laurence Freeman OSB

When I met with Father Laurence in London in 2001, I was a bit skeptical about the practice of meditation. Maurene had practiced meditation for much of her life and had encouraged me to join her. I had resisted. When we moved to London, I decided to pay a visit to Fr. Laurence, a Benedictine monk, who lived in a monastery near our manse. Since I was a Christian, maybe meditation in the Christian tradition would resonate despite my cynicism.

I can’t say that that one visit made me a believer. I can’t even remember much of what Fr. Laurence said to me on that day. I remember his kindness and his insistence that I needed to practice each morning and evening. He also encouraged me to be patient. He guided me to a group of meditators in central London. After that visit, I began a twice-a-day practice and headed into central London twice a week to join other meditators over lunch.

I think what made me skeptical of the practice was its simplicity. Fr. John Main, the founder of the World Community for Christian Meditation said, “you could put a description of the practice on the back of a postage stamp. Basically you should sit still with your spine upright as possible, lightly close your eyes, and begin saying, silently, your mantra throughout your time of meditation. When thoughts arise (and believe me they will!) lay them aside and return to the faithful, silent saying of your word.”

Fr. John didn’t event Christian meditation. He recovered a practice which began with the ‘Desert Fathers and Mothers’ in the fourth century. Fr. John was taught to meditate by Swami Satyananda, a Hindu monk, while serving in the British Foreign Service in Malaysia. It was only later, that he found in the writings of John Cassian (c. AD 360 – c. 435) that a Christian form of meditation had existed for over seventeen centuries. Fr. John brought it to the church by founding the first meditation groups in 1975. He tragically died in 1982. Fr. Laurence Freeman continued the work. Now, the World Community for Christian Meditation is a world wide organization.

I have now practiced meditation for 25 years. In fact, this month is the anniversary of my visit to Fr. Laurence in north London. There was no “duck to water” immediacy with me. But with patient perseverance my twice daily practice has become foundational to my faith. I have taught meditation at each of my churches and lead three evening meditation groups each week with folks from Australia, Canada, the Philippines and throughout the United States. I am the New York Regional Coordinator for WCCM-USA/

At our February Church Council meeting, I discussed my intention to begin a “Contemplative Community” in addition to our traditional Sunday morning worship. Sarah Bachelard began such a community in Australia and has written two books on the subject of non-traditional Christian worship. The worship focusses on silence and a short meditation period as part of each service. It is my hope that such a gathering might be of interest to folks outside of our membership. I experimented with such a group in Wantagh and it was well received. I hope to present my plan at the next Church Council Meeting.

Blessings,

Ron 

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