“If there is no reference of a community, you can’t be unique. You can’t even use language, you can’t know that you’re beautiful, you can’t know you are intelligent, or a stand-up comedian if there’s no one in the audience laughing at your jokes…..There’s always a larger reference point but it doesn’t negate or belittle our individuality. God makes sense of us as individuals…For so many Christians around the Western world, what really matters is my personal salvation and that misses the depth of Christian mysticism. We are interdependent whether we like it or not.” - The Rev. Michael Battle

Today we will discuss the evolving and expanding community of Contemplative Outreach and Centering Prayer. We have a special guest, The Very Reverend Michael Battle, Ph.D., a theologian, professor, author, and speaker. Rev. Battle was appointed as Herbert Thompson Professor of Church and Society and the Director of the Desmond Tutu Center at the General Theological Seminary in New York. He holds an undergraduate degree from Duke University and received his Master of Divinity from Princeton Theological Seminary. He also earned a Master’s Degree in Sacred Theology from Yale University and a Ph.D. in Theology and Ethics from Duke University. Rev. Battle was ordained a Priest by Archbishop Desmond Tutu and served as an Associate Priest in Cape Town, South Africa and many other churches throughout the United States. He is the author of 11 books including his most recent title, Desmond Tutu, A Spiritual Biography of South Africa’s Confessor.

In this episode:
- Rev. Battle was fascinated by the title Contemplative Outreach while he was in seminary because he felt it was a nice contrast of concepts in conflict. Like Mary and Martha, we must lead a balanced life as both a contemplative and an activist and he helps us to explore this idea.
- shares how he was naturally drawn to the contemplative life because he draws energy during times of quiet and silence.
- His experience with travel helped him to understand the contemplative life because he was constantly in new surroundings, cultures, and countries. He says that when you are aware of your surroundings you have more to contemplate. We all need subject matter in order to be contemplative.
- “Christian spirituality is not taught, but caught.” Centering Prayer allows us to get out of the way so we can have time with God without distractions.
- Rev. Battle shares his experience with Desmond Tutu and reflects on his contemplative practice, daily office, and what he learned from their time together.
- He shares thoughtful insight about community and our interdependence on each other.
- We unpack the idea of Ubuntu, an African proverb that is based on the Trinity. “I am because, we are and because we are, I am.” Identity is interdependent. I cannot be myself unless you are being who you are.
- We discussed the question, “How do we invite more people of color to the contemplative life?” Rev. Battle encourages us to move beyond the stereotypes and the classifications of race that are imposed on us and be an influencer like Jesus. He challenges us to explore the difference between therapy and spirituality and examine how we pray so that there is more depth and maturity in our prayers.
- Rev. Battle believes that God gives us gifts and we are all gifted differently. No gift is less than the other. Our gifts look different, but that doesn’t mean they are less than another. They are all needed.

“In fact, not to forgive others is not to forgive ourselves. At the deepest level, we are everyone else. We can only enjoy the world unconditionally with parts that are completely open to everyone.” - Father Thomas Keating

For all episodes to date, go to    • Contemplative Outreach Podcast:  Open...  .

To learn more about Father Thomas Keating’s guidelines for service and principles visit http://www.contemplativeoutreach.org/....

To connect further with The Rev. Michael Battle:
- Visit his website: http://www.michaelbattle.com
- Read his works including his most recent book "Desmond Tutu, A Spiritual Biography of South Africa's Confessor" at http://www.michaelbattle.com

To connect further with us:
- Visit our website: http://www.contemplativeoutreach.org
- Find us on Instagram:   / contemplativeoutreachltd  
- Like us on Facebook:   / contemplativeoutreach  
- Check out our YouTube channel:    / coutreach  

Season 2 of Opening Minds, Opening Hearts was made possible by a grant from the Trust for the Meditation Process, a charitable foundation encouraging meditation, mindfulness, and contemplative prayer.

This episode of Opening Minds, Opening Hearts produced by Crys & Tiana LLC http://www.crysandtiana.com

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