I picked up reading the book “Celebration of Discipline” by Richard Foster that I started a couple weeks back. Chapter 2 talks about the meditation – what IS meditation and how can we practice it? I think that this is an area I really struggle in and it’s not something I attempt very often because I don’t have a clear picture of what it means to meditate. I found it very interesting how Foster contrasted Eastern Religion’s meditation to Christian meditation. Instead of trying “empty” our minds of all worldly things, the purpose of our meditation is to fill our minds. It is true we should empty our minds of earthly things, but the emptying in itself is not enough – we must be filled and be attached. When we detach from the confusion of the world around us, we are able to attach to God. Although it is commonly believed that the best meditation allows us to be immune to the suffering of humanity and becoming “worldly, “Christian meditation is the one thing that can sufficiently redirect our lives so that we can deal with human life sucessfully…” And in that way, we can go about our lives as Christians in the world with a renewed sense of why we are here.

Another thing I learned is that meditation often involves “sanctifying the imagination”…When I think about the word “imagination” I usually think about the negative aspects (ie: imagining someone lustfully).  However, just like other areas (prayer, “contextualizing” the gospel etc), meditation is an area where we need discernment from God. If we try to meditate with our own willpower, without prayer for grace and wisdom, we fail. Anyways, going back to using our imagination…”We can descend with the mind into the heart most easily through the imagination”. He talks about going into God’s presence in this way.

Forms of Meditation

Here’s a breakdown of the main types of meditation mentioned by Foster in his book…

1) Meditation upon scripture. With this type, it is important to take time and really like the words soak into you. Also, remember that “we enter the story not as passive observers, but as active participants. Christ is truly with us to teach us, to heal us, to forgive.”

2) “Re-collection” – or “centering down”. This involves recreating silence and to allow our fragmented minds to become centered. A cool exercise to practice this centering down is called “palms down, palms up.” Begin by placing your palms down as a symbolic indication of your desire to turn over any concerns you may have to God. Inwardly you may pray “Lord, I give you my anger towards John…I surrender my anxiety with failing in school…” It is releasing all the strongholds that prevent you from truly seeing and experiencing God. Then, after several moments of surrender, turn your palsm up as a symbol of your desire to receive from God. You can pray silently: “Lord, I would like to receive your divine love for John, your peace about school…” Whatever you need, you say, “palms up”. Afterwards, you spend more time in complete silence. Don’t ask for anything. Just allow the Lord to commune with you, to love you..

3) Meditation upon creation. Sit outside. Look at creation and marvel at it. Think about how great is our Creator, the Creator of the universe!

4) Meditation upon the events of our time and seek to perceive their significance. This is best accomplished with the Bible in one hand and thenewspaper in the other.

“Meditation is not a single act, nor can it be completed the way one completes the building of a chair. It is a way of life. You will be constantly learning and growing as you plumb the inner depths.”