How did we get started and where are we going?

– the first question is easy to answer

• in 2004 I visited a friend who had sequestered himself in a monastery

◦ while there, I met a monk whose spiritual depth and insight left a deep impression on me

◦ I continued to visit him for the next two years

• he introduced me to contemplative spirituality

◦ simply put: contemplative spirituality is real-life Christianity

– the challenge is, we have to live in reality – that’s all there is

• but many people feel they cannot live in reality

◦ so we have created unrealistic forms of religion

◦ some that are unrealistically miraculous, others are all in the head, and others that treat Jesus like an imaginary friend

• contemplative spirituality is the real experience of God

◦ a real hope that doesn’t require the world to be good or people to be nice, or miracles every day