Page 110 - EMCAPP-Journal No. 7

Challenges for Christian Psychology

Jackie Stinton

A Reflection. The Practice Jackie Stinton

of Contemplative Prayer has a Ph.D. in
C o un s e l lin g
from an Evangelical P sy c h o log y,
and is in priva-
Perspective: a Seeking and te practice in

a Yearning Calgary, Alber-
ta, Canada. She
works from a
psychotherapy
Abstract framework that seeks to be attentive to
This reflection on contemplative prayer prac- both psychological dynamics and spiritual
tices in an evangelical setting emerged from a dimensions of human experience. As a psy-
personal spiritual journey, one lived within a chologist and spiritual director, she belie-
respected evangelical tradition, yet awakened ves that we are human beings on a spiritual
into a deeper spiritual journey and the discove- journey and spiritual beings on a human
ry of contemplative prayer practices. The desire journey. Jackie‘s beliefs reflect her Christi-
to bring the richness of these into greater awa- an faith, but she has a deep respect for the
reness for others led to a survey on the under- journeys of those of any faith or none. She
standing and practice of contemplative prayer works alongside each person to uncover
in this setting, with the anticipation that parti- authentic self-understanding and cultivate
cipants’ responses would inform of relevant and compassion and inner resources through
valuable ways of nurturing engagement with the personal challenges of their journey into
contemplative prayer practices. deeper meaning and greater wholeness.
The survey questions included ones on the de- jastinton@shaw.ca
finition, meaning, experience and objections
to contemplative practices. The limitations of ry of God, meeting Trinity in the deep silence,
the small sample were acknowledged, yet va- immersed without shape or form in his mystery
lue lay in the heartfelt responses of the parti- and re-emerging moved and touched in the in-
cipants. Reflection on these responses pointed ner depths, depths known to me as well as those
to meaningful ways of bringing contemplative yet unknown. In this sacred inner place of still-
practices into greater awareness and accessibi- ness and silence, God makes himself known to
lity within the evangelical church, as a means me as I am able to fathom and experience him.
of enriching both personal and communal spi- God in me in all his profoundness, innerness,
ritual life. inmostness and Being.
I did not know about contemplative practices
Contemplative Journey until I was called into my own deeper spiritual
This reflection will first express my own jour- journey. A steady state believer, one who ‘in-
ney to a stance and experience of contemplative vited Jesus into my heart’ at age 8, who never
prayer, as I have emerged from my evangelical doubted the existence of God and his invest-
tradition. A tradition I value much of and re- ment in her life, who quietly lived out of her
spect, including the godly men and women who level of faith, who drew closer to God in times
lived out their faith in God in life-bringing and of challenge, and then returned contentedly to
God-revering ways. And, a tradition that limi- her state of faith complacency. I did not enter
ted me in my exposure to and understanding of into my own spiritual depths because I had no
spiritual contemplative practices and the deep road map, no guide, and actually, no full under-
Mystery of God. standing of the depths within nor how to access
Perhaps that is my own sense of contemplative them in a spiritual sense. Working as a psycho-
prayer - touching, embracing the deep Myste- logist and having the perspective of respect and
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