It takes real effort to hold a contemplative posture in this world. Not because God is distant, but because everything else is loud. The pace, the pressure, the constant pull toward productivity—these forces scatter us before we even notice. Contemplation asks us to slow down, to return, to begin again.
On a recent quiet evening I hear the whisper of the Divine calling me again to return.
Richard Rohr reminds us that with regular practice, the small identity we work so hard to protect begins to loosen. As prayer deepens, the ego “calmly falls away,” and we shift from fear to connection, from ego‑consciousness to soul‑awareness. We no longer feel the need to defend a fragile self; we discover a deeper, steadier center.
But this shift isn’t a one‑time event. It’s a rhythm of losing and returning. A practice of perseverance.
Rohr also says we only dare to release our ego because Someone Else is holding us—drawing us into a flow of love we did not create. When we consent to that leading, even imperfectly, we begin to move with a grace that surprises us. We find ourselves carried by the very life of God.
So if today you feel distracted or far from the quiet center you long for, let this be your reminder: simply return. Return without judgment. Return because you are already held.
Contemplation isn’t about perfection.
It’s about coming back, again and again.
Smitten With Goodness 