Awakening to Wholeness is a series of prompts, reflections, and teachings about how holding the tension of opposites can help us to heal division and experience wholeness. If you feel moved to share your own reflections, we invite you to email us with the subject line “Wisdom of Opposites.”
At times, I am convinced that if I really want to change the world, then a good dose of intensity is needed. A burst of the flame of fire should really heat things up! Yet, the pattern persists, that after I put in a series of long days, or dedicate all of my energy towards a single project, then I often crash and burn afterwards. (Or at least, I need a few good nights of sleep.)
Recognizing this pattern makes me wonder about the value of consistency as a pathway toward transformation. To stick with the fire metaphor, consistency is like a good campfire glowing with warm embers. Little by little, forging a consistent pattern into a discipline—such as in prayer, or in being patient when life does not turn my way—takes just as much energy and focus as placing all of my energy into one project or period of time.
In the long run, I suspect that both intensity and consistency are necessary tools of passion to be found in the toolbox of transformative wisdom.
Contemplative Questions
We offer the following questions as prompts to help you reflect on the presence of opposites in your spiritual practice and your life.
- When have you pursued a project or goal with intensity? What does it feel like (physically, emotionally, spiritually)? What were the results?
- When have you pursued a project or goal with consistency? What does it feel like (physically, emotionally, spiritually)? What were the results?
- Do you tend to practice (or value) one approach over the other? How do you balance these two necessary tools?
Join the conversation! If you feel moved to share your reflections, we invite you to email us with the subject line “Wisdom of Opposites.”
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Christine Luna Munger
Christine Luna Munger, PhD currently serves as the director of the Episcopal House of Prayer. She previously served as Coordinator of the Spiritual Direction Certificate and Professor of Theology at St. Catherine University. She regularly writes, teaches, and leads group prayer sits at EHoP.
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