Articles on Prayer

  • Thomas Keating and Centering Prayer

    Thomas Keating and Centering Prayer

    Today’s post is by Mary van Balen I’m not sure when I began reading books by Thomas Merton. Probably late high school or early college. I’m also not sure how I discovered them. Though I was naturally drawn to contemplative prayer, the word was unfamiliar to me until Merton’s writings provided it. “Contemplative” was not…

    read more


  • Encountering God

    Encountering God is… like meeting a friend or loved one. ~Bernard McGinn

    read more


  • Every beautiful thing

    Behind every beautiful thing, there’s some kind of pain. ~Bob Dylan

    read more


  • Responsibility and Bliss

    Responsibility and Bliss

    Today’s post is by Savannah Kate Coffey Years ago, when my son was an infant, the nights often felt endless. One night it was just the two of us in the house and on that particular night I traipsed repeatedly between the rocker in the nursery and my empty bed. I distinctly remember the conflict…

    read more


  • Our entire self

    All good meditative prayer is a conversion of our entire self to God. ~Thomas Merton

    read more


  • The more

    The more a soul loves, the more it longs, the more it finds. ~Jean-Pierre de Caussade

    read more



Mission

Our mission is to nurture contemplative living and leadership.

Vision

In 2025, Shalem will be a dynamic and inclusive community, empowered by the Spirit, where seekers engage in transformation of themselves, their communities, and the world through spiritual growth, deep connection, and courageous action.

Cancel