Phileena Heuertz | Contemplation, Action, And Knowing God

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“I knew all this stuff about God but I was lacking in terms of how much I knew God in my personhood, in my lived experience…”—Phileena Heuertz

Episode 68 of Spirituality for Ordinary People features an interview with Phileena Heuertz.  Phileena has spent her life in social justice work among the world’s poor. A member of the New Friar movement, for nearly 20 years she and her husband Chris served with Word Made Flesh in more than 70 countries building community among victims of human trafficking, survivors of HIV and AIDS, abandoned children and child soldiers and war brides. Author, spiritual director, yoga instructor, public speaker and retreat guide, Phileena is passionate about spirituality and making the world a better place.

Key Learnings

There is a deep connection between Contemplative Spirituality and being socially engaged.

Sometimes you have to let your dog out, even when considering the deepest of issues.

As one becomes more and more connected to God it implies a greater connection to others. We have inherited an unhealthy expectation of a separation between contemplation and action.

We have intellectualized the faith so much and divorced our intellectual beliefs from what difference it makes in our life and in the world around us. Jesus truly lived his spirituality. It wasn’t primaril about intellectual beliefs.

A lot of us approach happiness externally (e.g. “if I could just get…”). Joy comes when we develop a capacity to live into our best selves in the midst of the real circumstances of life.

Things to Think About

What can you do in your life to bring together your personal relationship with Jesus and your active engagement in the world? How might contemplative Spiritual practices provide you with tools to bring these together?

Do you think you would be willing to try engaging more in contemplative practices?

Spiritual Practices Discussed in this Episode

Lectio Divina, Breath Prayer, Centering Prayer, Labyrinth, Yoga

Links and Resources:

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