Last night, John & I went to the book club where we talked about Part 2 of Eat This Book by Eugene Peterson. This section of the book talks about the ancient art of Lectio Divina which is a way to read the Bible. It consists of Lectio (we read the text), meditatio(we meditate the text), oratio(we pray the text) and contemplatio (we live the text). Peterson says not to think of this process as linear but rather as a looping spiral in which the four elements are repeated in various sequences and configurations.
Lectio Divina is a way of reading that becomes a way of living. A European monk named Guigo the Second described it this way,"Reading puts the solid food into our mouths, meditation chews it and breaks it down, prayer obtains the flavour of it, and contemplation is the very sweetness which makes us glad and refreshes us."
In two weeks, we're going to talk about Part 3 of the book.
5 comments:
When I lived in the Netherlands I attended a church where we would practice this together on special occasions. Our lead pastor at the time was quite the contemplative guy.......
I should have given you this url
http://www.sacredspace.ie/
It sort of fits in with Lectio Divina
I like the monk's quote. You said it right that the process is not linear. I think it should happen if not all at the same time, at least some at the same time - like we read and pray it, pray and live it, etc. Thanks for sharing again on your book study.
Rebecca,
Thanks for the website. I checked it out and thought it was very good. You have to tell me where you lived in The Netherlands...
Meaghan - Yes that is such a good metaphor for it!
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