You shall love Yahweh your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength. (Deuteronomy 6:4-6)

Contemplation, as an enlightened state of being, enters into every activity of the life of the contemplative. Love of God, love of others is the standard by which all of life is measured.

We, as contemplatives, are already fulfilled because we are doing the will of God.  We also realized the full potential of our humanness since we have been touched by the constancy of God’s love.  

We are now free of the constraints that previously bound us. We can act and respond freely, no longer bound by false images of self or false idols of success or failure and material possession. Even faith and hope are now colored brightly by the gift of God’s love.

All other types of prayer are now informed and become more meaningful by contemplation.  There is no strict duty to religious observance or law when the love of God is the object of any affection.  

We are drawn to liturgy, to spontaneous and exhilarating prayer, to group prayer, to prayer of thanksgiving, to healing prayer, even rote prayer, when we seek God in all we do. 

We trust that God’s goodness is in all and for all, and stop judging, “and turn all over” to God while discerning our own needs through the help of the Holy Spirit.  We are led and follow a path of moderation and acceptance, of balance in life, to serve God better.  

Check out Contemplation as Integrated Prayer: Part 2 and Contemplation as Integrated Prayer: Part 3