Vine-rs,

Here are some thoughts from the spiritually insightful author, Joyce Huggett, on meditation. Her words of gentle instruction may help you as you continue in your spiritual formation journey.  She writes:

‘Meditation’ is another word…people often use about prayer. But Christian meditation must not be confused with yoga, Eastern meditation or transcendental meditation. For, unlike these disciplines, Christian meditation has nothing to do with emptying our minds. Christian meditation engages every part of us-our mind, our emotions, our imagination, our creativity and, supremely, our will.

As Archbishop Anthony Bloom puts it, ‘Meditation is a piece of straight thinking under God’s guidance.’ Yet it is not the same as an academic study of the Scriptures….

In other words, Christian meditation involves, not emptiness, but fullness. It means being attentive to God. The purpose of this attentiveness…is…to see ourselves in the light of God’s revealed Word…We meditate to give God’s words the opportunity to penetrate, not just our minds, but our emotions-the places where we hurt-and our will-the place where we make choices and decisions. We meditate to encounter the Living Word, Jesus Himself. We meditate so that every part of our being, our thoughts and our affections and our ambitions, are turned to face and honour and glorify him. Yet another reason for learning to meditate is so that we may become conversant with the will of God…

Respond to Joyce’s definition of meditation. Let us know if this sheds more light on the solitude we have encouraged you to find through The Vine studies and meditation guides.