Contemplative Activism
TEC recently hosted international speaker and author, Jeff Pratt, who spoke on “Contemplative Activism.”
We thought it would be nice to include a reader’s response here, we hope you enjoy!
Dear Jeff,
Thank you for your visit to encourage, inspire and instruct us in responding daily to “The Homeward Call”, the current title of your book. I was struck by your introduction as a contemplative activist and the seemingly paradoxical understanding of these two terms. Contemplation sometimes brings us an image of a solitary monk far removed from the world. Is it realistic to speak of contemplation in a life lived in the fast lane of the modern western world?
As you shared your journey from Mormonism to Christ, and your walk with Him, we saw embodied in you the truth of what it means to be a contemplative activist. In the midst of the daily demands of life and work in a culture that rewards speed and efficiency, it can be difficult to know the wholeness of life, which the Bible calls Shalom. This word speaks of the peace that comes through right relationship with God, others and with God’s world. It is life lived out of an intimate, loving relationship with Christ.
The invitation you gave to us, to respond to the ‘homeward call’ of God, reminded us of the one necessary focal point in our lives. Our homecoming is where we find our peace and rest in the love and provision of Christ. What amazing grace that our Father calls us His beloved, marks us with His love and makes His home in us.
This reality points each of us to ask:
- – Am I distracted from the one necessary thing?
- – Do I feel out of sync with the shalom life that the Father intends for us to have?
- – Am I having a hard time seeing God in the everyday?
The challenge for each one of us is to establish patterns in our lives that will intentionally deepen our relationship to God and move us towards wholeness and maturity.
Your story encouraged us to be learners trained with contemplative eyes to see the world through God’s eyes. As our minds and hearts are turned towards home, God calls us to be activists who give our lives to Him to use as His instruments to make something beautiful of this broken world. The love of Christ compels us outward.
As I listened to you I was reminded of a quote by David Boach concerning the early church, “the way by which they hold the world together was pre-eminently, through their practice of love and service in the world.”
As you ended your session, with showing the picture of Jesus sketched as a jigsaw with one piece missing, it was a profound reminder that God calls us together to give visible to the life of Jesus. Thank you for sharing with us and may we always be those who always respond to the ‘homeward call’ of our loving heavenly Father.
Yours in Christ
Helen Blanch
You can read more on this yourself in Jeff Pratt’s latest book, “The Homeward Call”.
For further details go to www.jeff-pratt.com
