Happy New Year!

Thank you for subscribing to Silence Teaches! Let me highlight a brief history of my incredible journey.

When Amos Smith’s book, Healing the Divide was published in March of 2013, I came across it while I browsed on Amazon. I tried a sample. I could not get into it. I was just not ready for it. I put it aside but knew that perhaps in the future I will give it another try.

In the meantime, I began to dabble in silent prayer. I had heard that silence was transforming. I wanted to experience this transformation too. I would force myself to sit in silence. It was difficult! I began to test how long I could sit in silence. I started with one minute and increased it to three and even four minutes. (I had been introduced to silence as I read two books by Carl McColman:  The Big Book of Christian Mysticism: The Essential Guide to Contemplative Spirituality and Answering the Contemplative Call: First Steps on the Mystical Path.)

In the beginning of 2014, I came back to Amos’s book. Maybe I was ready for it now. I started to read it. I was ready! As I read it, I began to jot down questions. What is this Jesus Paradox that Amos refers to and why should I care? Amos has been a long term practitioner of centering prayer. I wanted to learn more about centering prayer. Am I really a divine being with a little d and a human being?

I emailed Amos these questions. To my surprise, Amos quickly responded. I began an email dialogue with Amos. This email dialogue continued. Amos asked me to help him with the RCMR social media. In June of 2014, Amos asked me if I wanted to co author a book with him. He suggested we write a book about the Jesus Paradox. I agreed. Over the last three years I have been working on my upcoming book titled, Centering Prayer Journey: Discovering and Mirroring the Dynamic Christ and the Human Jesus. As we have collaborated on this book, Amos and I have become good friends.

In August of 2016, Silence Teaches was launched. Silence Teaches is devoted to centering prayer. My weekly meditation off the RCMR site continues and is now also featured on Silence Teaches. Over the last year Silence Teaches has evolved from a weekly meditation to include contemplative author interviews, book reviews, centering prayer workshops in the community and centering prayer one on one coaching.

I have taught centering prayer at numerous churches and college/universities in my local community. I am happy to visit with your community. I now offer centering prayer one on one coaching for those who wish to go deeper in the practice and integrate it with their everyday life. (Feel free to contact me if you wish to obtain more information.)

This has been an exciting and wonderful journey. It is amazing to think that it all started because I decided to take a second look at Amos’ book, “Healing the Divide“.

I have been a daily practitioner since June 1, 2014. Centering prayer has changed my life. Centering prayer continues to change my life! The most important advice we can take is what Thomas Keating mentions, “The primary teaching of centering prayer is basically very simple and can be expressed in two words: “Do it!”  It will then do you. But it requires doing it every day.”

Thank you for joining me on my journey! I look forward to 2018 and where the Spirit moves us!

Go Further

Healing the Divide: Recovering Christianity’s Mystic Roots by Amos Smith

Centering Prayer and Inner Awakening by Cynthia Bourgeault

The Path of Centering Prayer: Deepening Your Experience of God  by David Frenette

Living in God: Contemplative Prayer and Contemplative Action  by Nicholas Amato

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