Chapter 6: Centering Prayer and Contemplative Prayer

I had often wondered if these were the same things or not. This chapter of the book explains the difference. Centering prayer is a method of prayer we follow. Contemplative prayer (or contemplation as it is sometimes called) is a gift that sometimes accompanies centering prayer. The authors posit that God’s main language is silence. Therefore, our way to approach him for communion is via silence. When our spirit meets with God’s spirit and a silent communication ensues, this is the beginning of contemplation. This kind of "being-to-being conversation" is an indescribable event, since it occurs in secret and is "directly infused into our being."

Have you experienced this? I think I have on occasion. I always wonder what my spirit and God's spirit are talking about though. Probably stuff like, "You know, he really could use more humility. Got any good ideas for how we could humble him?"