Spark My Muse

Ed Cyzewski says he is an unlikely candidate for the spiritual practices of the Christian contemplative tradition.

“Flee, Be Silent, Pray” are the three actions that form the bias for the contemplative tradition that go back to first Christian monastics of the desert of the 300 and 400 hundreds C.E. in Syria and Egypt.

But for Evangelicals like Ed, this goes against the grain of an action-oriented life that many Christinas have been taught to do. Christians may often feel the drive to, “Engage, Speak up, read Scripture!” or other such imperatives.

Today, we discuss his book "Flee, Be Silent, and Pray: Ancient Prayers for Anxious Christians", and some of its insightful contents such as: preparing our hearts for God's work, Ed's journey from "doing and duty" to "being and sweet repose", having a damaged view of God, taking an intimate journey with Jesus, the fruits of contemplative practice, dark night of the soul, and practices like Examen, Centering Prayer, and confession.

Ed's practical wisdom and personal story are relatable and our conversation is one we're sure you will enjoy.

Be sure to help support the program and stop by for the extras here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/24626115

"...to float, we do not resist anything, we consent to the qualities of the water which make our bodies buoyant. "

We experience the dynamism of silence the same way–through consent and direct immersion.

Today, I'm happy to bring you an extending reading and a short exercise involving silence, inspired by my new 51 page book.

This is an episode to enjoy at a slower pace. Clear out 25 minutes and let yourself sink into a new understanding of silence through listening and experiencing.

If you can support my work at $5, you get the entire book for FREE as my way of thanking "thank you".

Go directly to https://www.patreon.com/posts/24342172

or patreon.com/sparkmymuse

Reflection Questions based on this episode can be found here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/24470398

"...to float, we do not resist anything, we consent to the qualities of the water which make our bodies buoyant. "

We experience the dynamism of silence the same way–through consent and direct immersion.

Today, I'm happy to bring you an extending reading and a short exercise involving silence, inspired by my new 51 page book.

This is an episode to enjoy at a slower pace. Clear out 25 minutes and let yourself sink into a new understanding of silence through listening and experiencing.

If you can support my work at $5, you get the entire book for FREE as my way of thanking "thank you".

Go directly to https://www.patreon.com/posts/24342172

or patreon.com/sparkmymuse

Reflection Questions based on this episode can be found here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/24470398

"...to float, we do not resist anything, we consent to the qualities of the water which make our bodies buoyant. "

We experience the dynamism of silence the same way–through consent and direct immersion.

Today, I'm happy to bring you an extending reading and a short exercise involving silence, inspired by my new 51 page book.

This is an episode to enjoy at a slower pace. Clear out 25 minutes and let yourself sink into a new understanding of silence through listening and experiencing.

If you can support my work at $5, you get the entire book for FREE as my way of thanking "thank you".

Go directly to https://www.patreon.com/posts/24342172

or patreon.com/sparkmymuse

Reflection Questions based on this episode can be found here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/24470398

"...to float, we do not resist anything, we consent to the qualities of the water which make our bodies buoyant. "

We experience the dynamism of silence the same way–through consent and direct immersion.

Today, I'm happy to bring you an extending reading and a short exercise involving silence, inspired by my new 51 page book.

This is an episode to enjoy at a slower pace. Clear out 25 minutes and let yourself sink into a new understanding of silence through listening and experiencing.

If you can support my work at $5, you get the entire book for FREE as my way of thanking "thank you".

Go directly to https://www.patreon.com/posts/24342172

or patreon.com/sparkmymuse

Reflection Questions based on this episode can be found here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/24470398

Author, Spiritual Director, Retreat Leader, Speaker, Co-Founder of Gravity: A Center for Contemplative Activism, and former social justice and aid work Phileena Heuertz is my guest today.

We discuss a lot of what is in Phileena's second book "Mindful Silence: The Heart of Christian Contemplation" Our conversation covers making space for presence and invitation (for others), suffering and the presence of God, holding doubt and faith together, unknowing to know, paradox, Centering Prayer, the deconstruction of the self, and the three essential things to learn: Solitude, Silence, and Stillness ... and we talk about quite a bit more.

This direction link: https://www.patreon.com/posts/24284345

will get you all the EXTRAS and links to things we mentions in this episode. Please contribute in support of this program at patreon.com/sparkmymuse

Author, Spiritual Director, Retreat Leader, Speaker, Co-Founder of Gravity: A Center for Contemplative Activism, and former social justice and aid work Phileena Heuertz is my guest today.

We discuss a lot of what is in Phileena's second book "Mindful Silence: The Heart of Christian Contemplation" Our conversation covers making space for presence and invitation (for others), suffering and the presence of God, holding doubt and faith together, unknowing to know, paradox, Centering Prayer, the deconstruction of the self, and the three essential things to learn: Solitude, Silence, and Stillness ... and we talk about quite a bit more.

This direction link: https://www.patreon.com/posts/24284345

will get you all the EXTRAS and links to things we mentions in this episode. Please contribute in support of this program at patreon.com/sparkmymuse

Author, Spiritual Director, Retreat Leader, Speaker, Co-Founder of Gravity: A Center for Contemplative Activism, and former social justice and aid work Phileena Heuertz is my guest today.

We discuss a lot of what is in Phileena's second book "Mindful Silence: The Heart of Christian Contemplation" Our conversation covers making space for presence and invitation (for others), suffering and the presence of God, holding doubt and faith together, unknowing to know, paradox, Centering Prayer, the deconstruction of the self, and the three essential things to learn: Solitude, Silence, and Stillness ... and we talk about quite a bit more.

This direction link: https://www.patreon.com/posts/24284345

will get you all the EXTRAS and links to things we mentions in this episode. Please contribute in support of this program at patreon.com/sparkmymuse

Author, Spiritual Director, Retreat Leader, Speaker, Co-Founder of Gravity: A Center for Contemplative Activism, and former social justice and aid work Phileena Heuertz is my guest today.

We discuss a lot of what is in Phileena's second book "Mindful Silence: The Heart of Christian Contemplation" Our conversation covers making space for presence and invitation (for others), suffering and the presence of God, holding doubt and faith together, unknowing to know, paradox, Centering Prayer, the deconstruction of the self, and the three essential things to learn: Solitude, Silence, and Stillness ... and we talk about quite a bit more.

This direction link: https://www.patreon.com/posts/24284345

will get you all the EXTRAS and links to things we mentions in this episode. Please contribute in support of this program at patreon.com/sparkmymuse

Today, I read an essay by Cassidy Hall from the book "Notes on Silence" written and edited by Cassidy Hall and Patrick Hall.

This essay speaks to mystery, beholding, reaching into the unknown–all the qualities of silence and what is woven into the human experience.

This book is related to the award-winning film "In Pursuit of Silence" - for all the information about the book, the film, Cassidy, and more click on the direct link to access the EXTRAS: https://www.patreon.com/posts/24156970

(A small cost to get these show notes will also get you many more Extras and help support Spark My Muse and the ongoing work of Lisa DeLay.)