First Essay from The Christian Contemplative Journey: a book by Bernadette Roberts

The Spiritual Journey Recapitulates the History of Religion

The first essay in Robert’s book is titled The Spiritual Journey Recapitulates the History of Religion. While there are many things we could say about Roberts I leave that to your own research. I find her delightful, straightforward, and articulate. The purpose of this reflective work is twofold. First, it is completely personal. As a budding contemplative it is a way to delve more deeply into Robert’s work, which is to say how does a mystic interpret the journey? The way this delving will be accomplished is to use a method offered by Jim Finely and as expressed in his podcast Turning to the Mystics. This method entails going through the essay paragraph-by-paragraph asking each paragraph a couple of questions. The questions are:

1) How have I or how am I understanding or experiencing these words?

2) What are the words asking of me?

3) How is staying true to the asking going?

Another important ingredient is that this slow reflective reading (also known as Lectio Divina) is done from a place of recollection. In other words it is not my head trying to figure out what Roberts or the text is saying, but my heart. Or better yet the mind in the heart.

The second reason for this reflective work is to continue to put Robert’s work, insights, and understanding forward. She has a small body of work, which I feel is invaluable, and an understanding of the contemplative journey rarely heard about in the Church. If you want to blow up your head read her book The Real Christ. While I won’t digress here, one of the take aways is that Christ is not a who but a what … chew on that for a while.

I hope you will join me on the journey. Perhaps together, at least for this first essay, we’ll learn something about the nature of revelation, particularly as it relates to how God reveals itself, and why no one religion usually houses the whole truth.