Of Warrior-Kings and Fiery Prophets
The common thought seems to be that a truck driver, gymnast, or video game developer would never participate in contemplative prayer. Many write off contemplation by saying, “But I’m a doer, like Martha!” as if the world were split between contemplatives and activists. This split is not only artificial but tragic; contemplation and activism are parts of an organic whole.
Contemplative prayer is not only for introverted, intuitive types. Consider the reflective psalm-writing shepherd David. Imagine this warrior-king in contemplation one moment; the next moment he’s killing a lion to save his sheep. This same man, who squirmed out of a desperate situation by pretending to be mentally unbalanced, was schooled by God in the contemplative tradition (Pss. 5:3; 27:14,; 37:7; 38:15; 40:1; 130:5–6). Perhaps David even got the creative idea of feigning madness while waiting on God. It wouldn’t surprise me, considering the practical insights I’ve gained from contemplative moments. For someone as practiced in solitude and contemplation as David, the border between the rich inner life and the active outer life was permeable. He must have moved in and out of contemplation all day.
Other biblical figures with active public lives connected with God in private moments. In Elijah’s discouragement (including suicidal thoughts), the angel drew him far from the public scene to hear the gentle whisper of God. There he rested, conversed with God, and discerned the specifics of his prophetic vision (1 Kings 19:12). Jacob retreated to Bethel, and God showed him his future and hope (Gen. 28:10–17). Jesus withdrew to the desert to listen to God and began inviting the disciples to join him (Mark 6:31).
Contemplatives make good activists. Their activity becomes focused, powerful, and sustained.
Contemplatives make good activists. Their activity becomes focused, powerful, and sustained. Significant doers draw from a well of quietness before God. For example, Amy Carmichael was a single missionary to India, who rescued temple prostitutes, eventually establishing a home and school for them. She also wrote this:
Give much time to quietness. We have to get our help for the most part direct from our God. We are here to help, not be helped, and we must each one of us learn to walk with God alone and feed on His word so as to be nourished. Don’t only read and pray; listen. And don’t evade the slightest whisper of guidance that comes.
Both Augustine of Hippo and Bernard of Clairvaux were contemplatives who were highly productive. Three years after entering the monastery, Bernard was sent to found the abbey at Clairvaux and served there as abbot until his death. During that time, he founded more than sixty monasteries and assisted in founding three hundred more. Augustine was not only an ecclesiastical and liturgical leader, but also a magistrate, “assaulted by his congregation with small- claims disputes, and forced to beseech a haughty civil service on their behalf.” In the midst of all these good works, both men (as their writing reveals) made seeing God and loving God the primary pursuit of their lives.