Invitation to Presence: A Guide to Spiritual Disciplines (Pathways in Spiritual Growth-Resources for Congregations and Leadership)

Rating:
Summary: Unfortunate slant
Review: An Invitaion to Presence is just that an opportunity to experience the process of the presence of God. It is a great introduction to the practice of meditation and contemplation. It has a leader guide that enables it to be used in a group setting but of course is good to study individually. The cross references and resources shared give opporunity to move additionally in the process as one grows and wants to open more and more to knowing the heart of God.

Rating:
Summary: Invitation to Presence, A Guide to Spiritual Disciplines
Review: An Invitaion to Presence is just that an opportunity to experience the process of the presence of God. It is a great introduction to the practice of meditation and contemplation. It has a leader guide that enables it to be used in a group setting but of course is good to study individually. The cross references and resources shared give opporunity to move additionally in the process as one grows and wants to open more and more to knowing the heart of God.

Rating:
Summary: Unfortunate slant
Review: The unfortunate slant on Wendy Miller is the assumption that her material is accessible and the classics are not.

Where it is true that this book is a beginners book there are many avenues for learning the art of contemplative prayer. For starting beginners a good resource is The Contemplative Heart by James Finley. Let's face it, there are those who are experienced at this and those who dabble in a little bit of knowledge and have no experience whatsoever with daily contemplative practice. The deeper practice has to do with opening the heart but also the teachings have to do specifically with guarding one's thoughts and releasing them in realm of our suffering human experience. Contemplation is an ancient discipline and prayer of the heart. To call the ancient Orthodox traditions and other traditions which have taught the practice "stuffy" is a bit narrow in perspective. Ms. Miller may be well meaning but her efforts are a bit shallow.