Resilience and Justice

How does contemplation foster resilience in justice work? In March’s “We Conspire” series, Joanna Arellano-Gonzalez, co-founder of the Coalition for Spiritual and Public Leadership (CSPL), shares how contemplation has sustained her justice work.  

“Justice work is grueling and challenging,” Arellano-Gonzalez says. “It stretches you in ways that you can’t imagine. However, contemplation provides a spiritual and moral compass that fosters greater self-awareness, greater empathy and prevents burnout because you’re drawing from an eternal source. Contemplation is a countercultural act to the lords of capitalism, individualism, consumerism, racism, and other “isms” within the American empire, which dull our human capacity to feel empathy, to exercise solidarity, and be communal.”  

Without contemplation, humanity risks replicating systems of oppression upon one another and within our communities and families. “Contemplation helps us cultivate what we want to see, which is God’s kingdom here on earth,” she explains. Arellano-Gonzalez emphasizes the importance of contemplative practices to sustain justice work for the long haul. These practices help develop a unique root system, allowing individuals to stand tall and see beyond the chaos and fear that pervade our world. By cultivating an awareness of oneness with creation and with others, contemplation helps us transcend the polarities that exist in our world. 

At CSPL, contemplation is woven throughout the organization and has been since its inception. The four organizational pillars are inspired by liberation theology and community organizing rooted in the mystical, contemplative traditions: creating social change, exploring liberation theology, building grassroots power, and investing in the movement through a contemplative approach. CSPL’s organizational philosophy was inspired by Fr. Richard Rohr’s book Dancing Standing Still, which frames Moses’s transcendental experience as having explicit social and political consequences. [1]  

Drawing from liberation theologians like Jon Sobrino, Gustavo Gutierrez, James Cone and others, CSPL’s goal is to walk in solidarity with the poor, marginalized, and oppressed. This is done within a spiritual practice rooted in reality, reflecting the true essence of Christian faith centered around Jesus, who was a poor, Mediterranean, Jewish peasant living in occupied Palestine in the first century. 

Contemplation awakens and invites individuals to a rigorous presence wherever they are, marveling at the human person as one might marvel at nature. Contemplation expands our capacity to see the wonder in ourselves and others. Arellano-Gonzalez finds contemplative practices crucial when faced with the shadow side of justice work: conflict, competition and corruption.  

Contemplation builds within us the capacity to listen without centering ourselves, judging, or critiquing, and to receive the journey of another. Whether engaging in one-on-one community interactions or addressing broader issues, contemplation fosters a state of beholding the other person’s story and the issues they face.  

For Arellano-Gonzalez, one cannot talk about God without affirming the dignity and worth of the human person. This means unlearning racism, prejudice, all the “isms” that distort our understanding of humanity and our role in the world. “Ultimately,” she says, “the Spirit is always guiding us to a third way which is much more creative and more beautiful than we can imagine. I strongly feel that contemplation also offers us that path.” 

Reference:  
[1] See https://www.csplaction.org/about. Accessed 2/25/2025. 

Reflect with Us  
How has contemplation helped you cultivate resilience in the face of injustice? In what ways has spiritual practice sustained your commitment to justice and solidarity? Share your reflection with us.  

We Conspire is a series from the Center for Action and Contemplation featuring wisdom and stories from the growing Christian contemplative movement. Sign up for the monthly email series and receive a free invitation to practice each month.