The contemplative tradition (the Prayer-filled life) gives special attention to loving God. "True, whole prayer is nothing but love," says St. Augustine.

Born in Prades, France, Thomas Merton had a trying and painful childhood - his mother died when he was six, and his father died when he was fifteen.

In his mid-twenties Merton experienced a profound conversion while attending Columbia University, and he joined the Roman Catholic church. At the age of twenty-six he entered Gethsemane Abbey in Kentucky where he would live the rest of his life as a Trappist monk.

One of his more famous works was a book called, "Contemplative Prayer." Yesterday we spoke of the difference between learning how to praise and developing a full time attitude of praise. Merton uses similar language.

"In meditation we should not look for a 'method' or a 'system,' but cultivate an 'attitude,' and 'outlook': faith, openness, attention, reverence, expectation, supplication, trust, joy. All these gfinally permeate our being with love in so far as our living faith tells us we are in the presence of God, that we live in Christ, that in the Spirit of God we "see' God our Father without 'seeing.' We know him in 'unknowing.' Faith is the bond that unites us to him in the Spirit who gives us light and love." - From Contemplative Prayer by Thomas Merton

We have spoken of this before. It is the difference between attending church and being church.

Marinated pork loin for dinner on Wednesday night and pot-luck dishes being gathered on Sunday morning for lunch after worship at Delano Park.

See you on Wednesday night!