Sacred Space in the Balance

I'm reading an article by Christopher Kiesling, OP on the struggle for balance in our lives. He is speaking to a particular form of life, the Dominican life. But what he says holds true for all of us.

Dominicans are noted for combining what had previously been considered polar opposites: contemplation and apostolic work. The combination must work--Dominicans have been around now for 800 years, have never undergone any major reform, split, repression or inner strife, and continue to grow and expand.

This very charism of the Dominican Order also applies to all of us who seek to find time for God in our very busy lives. The secret is--how? I'm reminded of the multiple books I've read on writing. All say, if you wait for that perfect spot, time, condition to write, forget it. It will most likely never happen. Instead, they say you must make yourself write every day, even if what you write isn't Pultilzer material, or even publishable.

I think the same applies to contemplation. Kiesling notes that when speaking of contemplation, he means prayer, reflection, thoughtful reading of Scripture or other religious literature, retreats, and other practices in which a person quiets self...and allows affective responses to flow from thought, allowing oneself to savour the presence of God.

This requires, I think, making "sacred space" for oneself. Be it very early in the morning, on lunch break, late at night before tumbling into bed. One can and must make a place for quiet reflection.

I have a friend who put a chair, candle, incense and light in a corner of one of her rooms. This is her prayer corner, and she uses it daily. She has carved out for herself some "sacred space" that puts her in the mood for reflection and prayer.

All of us need sacred space. Giving ourselves over to quiet and reflection balances our busy lives. It helps put things in perspective, and deepens our understanding of the mysterious that surround us. It's no wonder meditation has become popular, even for medical purposes. It has a lot to offer us. We just need to carve out our space to take advantage of the practice.