Three Guidelines for Nurturing a Contemplative Community
What does it look like to grow and nurture a contemplative community today? Pastor Tia Norman shares three guidelines that have served her while expanding her contemplative community, Awakenings, in Houston, Texas.
A question I carry close to my heart while serving as pastor of a contemplative community is: “What wisdom has served us for a time, and what wisdom is timeless that can carry us forward?” In cosmic terms, how do we traverse the gap between ancient mystics and modern contemplatives?
In my years of work, I’ve found several guidelines which serve as a portal of connection between contemplative communities then and now. These guidelines have evolved, based on my years of experience, and I’d like to share three of them with you.
1. Place the Holy Spirit as a forethought, not an afterthought.
A contemplative community trusts Spirit as an organizing creative energy. In doing so, it appreciates form and participates in creating structure, but is not overly identified with the ways in which it manifests.
It has been a great fortune of mine to pastor a community that had taken many shapes and lived many lives before my arrival. The willingness to change is woven into the fabric of the culture. A contemplative community recognizes it is not exempt from the willingness to respond to the movement of Spirit. We must be willing to let go as an act of kenosis with the understanding that transformation requires change.
“A contemplative community recognizes it is not exempt from the willingness to respond to the movement of Spirit. We must be willing to let go as an act of kenosis with the understanding that transformation requires change.” — Tia Norman
2. Remember: It’s about a body, not a building.
A contemplative community serves as a mirror and support along the path of spiritual growth and maturity.
This guideline is grounded in an experience visiting the childhood church of a friend. We took a flight of stairs down from the sanctuary and he explained that we were headed to the place where children would gather. Every single room, from the floor to as close to the ceiling as possible, was full of storage boxes. I remember finding this strange—and I found myself wondering if there was any room left for the people to gather. What thinking, actions, and values allowed this gathering place to transform into little more than a storage house?
A contemplative community recognizes the importance of buildings and the role they play in supporting our community; but it does not favor the expansion of spaces over the spiritual expansion of the bodies that congregate within them.
“A contemplative community recognizes the importance of buildings and the role they play in supporting our community; but it does not favor the expansion of spaces over the spiritual expansion of the bodies that congregate within them.” — Tia Norman
3. Fan the flame.
A contemplative community recognizes and appreciates the individual gifts of its members. Through discernment, the community fans the flame of spirit within the parts (2 Timothy 1-6). It holds a contemplative gaze at the ways Spirit has brought all talents and people together at an appointed time and an appointed place. This deep trust leads to a willingness to experiment with how these individual flames can come together in service of something bigger.
“Leaning into the wisdom of our mystical past can offer us valuable insights into the ways in which we adapt, create, and participate in our own contemplative communities today.” — Tia Norman
Although not comprehensive, these guidelines connect our community today to the ancient communities of the Egyptian desert, the walls of the monastery, and beyond. Leaning into the wisdom of our mystical past can offer us valuable insights into the ways in which we adapt, create, and participate in our own contemplative communities today.
Reflect with Us: Are you part of a contemplative community? Which of Tia’s guidelines resonates with you most? Share your reflection with us.
Tia Norman is a teacher and guide specializing in spirituality and practices anchored in the mystical teachings of the Christian contemplative tradition. She serves as Pastor of Awakenings, Inc., a contemplative community based in Houston, Texas. She is the owner of A Contemplative Space LLC.
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.