The Contemplative Companion for Friday, June 16, 2017

Since, then, we have the same spirit of faith,
according to what is written, “I believed, therefore I spoke,”
we too believe and therefore speak. – 2 Corinthians 4.13

Notice the contemplative hint for living:  we don’t first know, and then speak. We first believe, then speak.  This order reveals that faith precedes and shapes understanding.

I find this to be a relief, since we often feel overwhelmed to try and figure everything out before we feel capable or ready to share, speak, teach or bear witness.

We are invited to not know so much, and have more faith. We are invited to become more comfortable living with a decreased sense of control, and an increased level of patient trust.

Applied, perhaps this means not saying anything to the person in your life who is demanding answers from you. Perhaps a loving silence is the wise way to respond – trusting that the Spirit of God can mediate the in-between space that can sometimes grow between beloveds, friends, family members or colleagues – a space that can be scary to see, but one that reveals what you most deeply believe and trust in.

Let the Spirit of God guide your response from within the silence – maybe not even with words, but with a gracious look or peaceful, non-anxious disposition.

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