"Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you."   These words from Jesus aren’t just countercultural—they’re downright offensive. Yet, they hold the key to a deeper, freer relationship with God and with others.

‍Why Pray for Your Enemies? 

 We often think of enemies as people who have wronged us in big ways. But enemies can be anyone toward whom we feel resentment, hostility, or frustration. Maybe it’s a coworker who undermines you, a family member who pushes your buttons, or someone whose politics make your blood boil.

Praying for these people isn’t about excusing their behavior—it’s about freeing our hearts from bitterness. It’s about letting God transform our perspective, teaching us to see them as He does.

 How to Pray for Your Enemies 

 1.   Define Your “Enemies”    

   Start by identifying those you struggle to love. Be honest with yourself—resentment often hides in subtle places.

2.   Pray the Prayer of Blessing    

   Use this simple prayer as a starting point:

   - “God bless ________. Give them success and honor above what You give me. Bless their relationships, plans, and efforts. And help them to know they are loved and valued in your Kingdom.”

3.   Repeat Until It Feels Real    

   It’s okay if your prayer feels hollow at first. Keep praying. Over time, your heart will soften, and your words will align with your intentions.

‍The Impact of the Practice

  A few years ago, I began praying for someone I deeply resented. At first, it felt insincere, even hypocritical. But as I persisted, something shifted. I began to see this person not as an adversary but as someone deeply loved by God. The walls of hostility in my heart started to crumble, and I experienced a freedom I hadn’t known before.

Praying for our enemies doesn’t just change them—it changes us. It aligns our hearts with God’s, teaching us to love with His radical grace.

In Discipling Relationships

 Praying for enemies can be a transformative practice to share with others.

-   Encourage Accountability  : In a discipling relationship, challenge one another to identify and pray for enemies regularly. Share how the practice is shaping your hearts.

-   Use It to Heal Relationships  : In church settings, use this prayer to address division and foster reconciliation. Imagine the power of a congregation united in praying for those who’ve wronged them or as a means of addressing deep conflict within their community.

-   Model Vulnerability  : Share your own struggles and breakthroughs with this practice. Vulnerability can encourage others to confront their own resentments.

‍Freedom Through Prayer  

Praying for our enemies isn’t easy, but it’s one of the most Christlike things we can do. It sets us free from the chains of resentment and aligns us with God’s heart. So, who are you struggling to love today? Start praying for them. You might just find that God does a miracle—not just in them, but in you.

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 "I have now seen the One who sees me."   These words from Hagar in Genesis 16 reveal a God who is attentive, a God who sees us fully. Yet, how often do we pause long enough to truly see God? Visio Divina, or “sacred seeing,” is a practice that invites us to slow down and meet God through visual imagery, offering us a fresh way to encounter God’s presence.

‍What Is Visio Divina?  

Visio Divina, which means “divine seeing,” is a form of prayer that uses visual art or images to help us connect with God. Like Lectio Divina, where we meditate on Scripture, Visio invites us to meditate on an image, allowing the Holy Spirit to stir something in our hearts and work through our emotions and imagination. The power of Visio Divina lies in its simplicity. It’s not about interpreting art or analyzing details—it’s about being present. As you gaze upon an image, you’re invited to notice what God might be saying to you through colors, textures, emotions, or themes.

‍How to Practice Visio Divina

 1.   Choose an Image    

Start by selecting an image—perhaps a  religious icon of Jesus, a classic work like Rembrandt’s  The Return of the Prodigal Son, or a modern piece that resonates with you. Even a photograph of nature or a meaningful object can work.

2.   Begin with Silence    

Take a moment to quiet your heart and invite God into the experience. Pray something simple, like: “Lord, open my eyes to see You.”

3.   Observe the Image    

Slowly take in the image. Let your eyes wander naturally. Ask yourself:

   - Where does my gaze linger?

   - What emotions or memories does this evoke?

   - What might God want to reveal to me here?

4.   Reflect and Respond    

Write down or pray about what came to mind. Did a specific theme stand out? Did the image shift how you perceive God’s presence in your life?

In Discipling Relationships 

 Visio Divina isn’t just for personal reflection—it’s a powerful tool for your spiritual support network and disciple-making.

-   Share Your Reflections  : Invite your discipling group to practice Visio Divina with the same image. Discuss how God spoke to each person. Often, you’ll find that God reveals different facets or meaning to each participant, enriching everyone’s understanding.

-   Use it in Worship  : Incorporate images into times of communal prayer or retreats. Sacred art can set the tone for deep spiritual engagement, and is a helpful tool for people who struggle with silence and stillness.

-   Explore Themes Together  : Choose images that resonate with your group’s season—like resurrection for Easter or lament for a time of grief.

‍Seeing God Anew  

Visio Divina is an invitation to slow down, to see God in ways you might not expect. It’s a reminder that His presence can be found not just in words, but in the beauty around us. So take a moment. Look closely. You might just discover that He’s been looking at you all along.

  "What do you want me to do for you?"   Jesus’ question to the blind man in Mark 10 is as much for us as it was for him. Imaginative prayer brings this question to life, inviting us to step into the Gospel stories and encounter Jesus not as a distant figure but as a personal presence.

‍What is Imaginative Prayer? 

 This practice, rooted in Ignatian spirituality, uses the imagination as a gateway to encounter Jesus. By placing ourselves in a biblical story, we engage with Scripture on a sensory and emotional level, allowing God to speak to us in deeply personal ways.

Imaginative prayer isn’t about creating fiction or forcing spiritual insight. It’s about meeting Jesus in the story, just as He met people in the Gospels. It invites us to move beyond analysis and experience the living Word in a way that transforms our hearts.

‍How to Practice Imaginative Prayer  

1.   Choose a Gospel Story    

   Select a passage that resonates with you. Start with narratives rich in sensory details, such as Jesus calming the storm (Mark 4:35-41) or the Samaritan woman at the well (John 4:1-42).

2.   Set the Scene    

   Find a quiet space where you can focus without distractions. Read the passage slowly, noting the details of the setting, the characters, and the emotions in the story.

3.   Enter the Story    

   Close your eyes and imagine yourself in the scene:

   - What do you see, hear, smell, or feel?

   - Who are you in the story? An observer? One of the disciples? The person Jesus is addressing?

   - How does Jesus look at you? What does His voice sound like?

4.   Engage with Jesus    

   As the story unfolds, notice how Jesus interacts with you. What does He say? How do you respond? Allow the story to play out naturally, trusting the Spirit to guide your imagination.

5.   Reflect and Respond    

   Afterward, spend a few moments journaling or praying about what you experienced. What stood out to you? Did you sense an invitation or challenge from Jesus?

‍In Discipling Relationships

Imaginative prayer can be a transformative tool in discipling others. Here’s how to practice it:

-   Shared Reflection  : Invite your discipling group to choose the same passage and practice imaginative prayer individually. When you meet, share your experiences. What did Jesus reveal to each of you? How do these insights shape your understanding of Him?

-   Tailored Encouragement  : If someone in your group is struggling with a particular issue, suggest a story that might speak to their situation, like the prodigal son for someone wrestling with shame or the calming of the storm for someone feeling overwhelmed.

-   Fostering Empathy  : Practicing this together can deepen compassion as participants share how they relate to different characters in the story.

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Entering the Gospel Story

Imaginative prayer isn’t about manufacturing an experience or forcing a profound revelation—it’s about showing up to meet Jesus. It’s about letting the Word come alive in our hearts, not just our minds. If you’re new to this practice, start simple. Choose a story, set aside time, and trust the Spirit to guide you. Jesus is already there, waiting to meet you in the story. The question is: Are you ready to step into it?

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 "Be still and know that I am God."   These words from Psalm 46:10 hold a depth that is easily missed in our fast-paced lives. They’re not just an invitation to rest—they’re a command to surrender. In a world that values doing over being, the practice of Centering Prayer invites us into the stillness where God’s voice can finally rise above the noise.

‍The Invitation to Silence

  In ministry and disciple-making, we often think of prayer as words—pleading, praising, confessing, asking. Yet, there are forms of prayer that require none of these. Centering Prayer is one such practice, and the focus of this discipline is around resting in God’s presence without agenda. It’s a practice rooted in the belief that God desires to meet us, not in our striving, but in our stillness.

This is a challenging concept for many of us. Our culture rewards productivity and efficiency, even in spiritual practices. We want to come away with something tangible: a revelation, a breakthrough, a plan. But Centering Prayer flips this mindset. The goal isn’t to accomplish but to be—to dwell with God in quiet trust, like a child resting in their parent’s arms. It is intentionally wasting time with God.

 How to Practice Centering Prayer  

1.   Set Aside the Time    

   Start small—10 to 20 minutes is plenty. Choose a time of day when you’re least likely to be interrupted or distracted. Mornings often work best, before the rush of the day pulls at your mind.

2.   Find a Quiet Place    

   Select a space where you feel comfortable and safe, whether it’s a corner of your home, a quiet chapel, or even a park. Silence matters, but so does simplicity. This isn’t about creating the perfect atmosphere but finding a place where you can be still and present.

3.   Choose a Simple Prayer Word    

   Pick a word or phrase that reflects your intention to consent to God’s presence and action within you. It might be “God is Love,” “Lord Have Mercy on Me,” “Jesus,” or even just “Abba.” This word will act as an anchor, gently drawing your attention back to God when your mind wanders.

4.   Rest in God’s Presence    

   Sit comfortably, close your eyes, and silently repeat your simple prayer as you breathe slowly. If distractions arise (and they will), simply acknowledge them and return to your word. Remember, the goal isn’t to suppress thoughts but to let them pass without attachment, like clouds drifting across the sky, keeping our quiet attention present to God rather than our own thoughts.

 The Beauty of Silence

  Centering Prayer isn’t about achieving something profound. In fact, it’s often unremarkable—quiet, even mundane. Yet, over time, the practice begins to shape us. We may become more patient, less reactive. We notice God’s presence in ordinary moments. It’s not that God becomes more present; it’s that we become more aware.

 In Discipling Relationships 

This practice isn’t just for personal renewal; it’s a powerful tool in disciple-making. Incorporating Centering Prayer into your relationships can create space for the Spirit to work in ways our words cannot. Here’s how:

-   Pray Together  : Begin a discipling meeting with five minutes of silent prayer. Use the time to draw your collective attention toward God and set the tone for deep conversation.

-   Share Reflections  : After praying, discuss what it felt like to sit in silence. Did thoughts of gratitude emerge? Did a particular burden come to mind? Sharing these experiences can deepen your connection with one another and with God.

-   Model Stillness  : As a disciple maker, your willingness to embrace silence can teach others to trust in God’s presence, even in uncertainty.

‍A Subtle Transformation 

 Over time, the effects of healthy spiritual habits seep into every aspect of life. You might find yourself less anxious in stressful situations, more patient in relationships, and more aware of God’s activity around you. These aren’t immediate results—they’re the fruit of slow, steady practice.

If you’re feeling hesitant, let me remind you: Centering Prayer isn’t about getting it right. There’s no perfect way to sit in silence with God. What matters is your willingness to show up and let God do the rest.

So today, I invite you: Be still. Rest in the presence of the One who is always present with you. In the silence, you might just hear what your soul has been longing for all along.

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Discipleship is about learning to live in alignment with the heart of God, and spiritual direction is one of the ways we can learn to walk that path more intentionally. It’s not a shortcut or a fast track—it’s a space to reflect, listen, and take the next step toward becoming more like Christ.

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Noticing God’s Presence

  The first way direction can aid in discipleship is by helping us learn to pay attention. God is always moving, but we’re often too distracted to notice. Spiritual direction helps you slow down, reflect, and ask: “Where is God at work in my life?” Over time, this practice of noticing becomes second nature. You start to see God in places you didn’t expect—in everyday conversations, in moments of gratitude, even in seasons of struggle or grief.

‍Navigating the Hard Questions

  Discipleship isn’t always straightforward. We all face moments of doubt, confusion, or spiritual dryness. A director doesn’t seek to fix those moments but helps you sit with them, asking, “What might God be doing here? What’s being revealed in this tension?” Faith and hope are not means of avoiding struggle; they are about letting God use every part of your journey, even the hard ones, to shape you.

 Living Out the Call  

Discernment is not just about reflection, though, it’s about responding wisely to our circumstances. Spiritual direction connects what you notice in prayer with how you live in the world. Whether it’s making a big decision, leaning into a relationship, or stepping into a new season of ministry, direction can help you discern how to respond to God’s invitations.

‍Becoming More Like Jesus

  At its core, spiritual direction is about transformation. It’s not about being more religious—it’s about becoming more like Christ. It’s about learning to see as Jesus sees, love as Jesus loves, and act as Jesus acts. And the best part? You don’t have to do it alone. With a spiritual director by your side, you’ll discover that discipleship is not a destination but a journey—one that leads you deeper into the heart of God.

If you feel ready to explore spiritual direction as part of your discipleship journey, Exponent’s marketplace is a helpful starting point. It’s designed to connect you with directors who are ready to walk with you as you learn to live more fully in step with God’s heart.

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Walking into your first session of spiritual direction can feel like stepping into an unknown space. You may wonder what’s expected of you or what you’re supposed to say. But a spiritual direction conversation is not meant to be performative; it’s about showing up with whatever you’re carrying and trusting God to meet you there.

A Safe Space to Reflect

At its heart, spiritual direction is a space to pay attention. It’s not therapy, advice, or problem-solving. It’s a conversation where the focus is on listening for God’s voice. Your director will ask questions, not to give you answers but to help you reflect on what God might be saying. 

Questions like:  

- “Where have you noticed God’s presence recently?”  

- “Are there places where you feel stuck or uncertain?”  

A good director is both a listening companion and a spiritual midwife: there to help in your own reflection and discernment about where God is present in your interior and relational life.

The Gift of Trust

Spiritual direction is deeply relational. The first few sessions might feel like getting to know a new friend. You’re building trust, both with your director and with the process itself. Over time, you’ll notice that this trust creates freedom—the freedom to bring your whole self into the conversation, without fear of judgment or expectation: which is the culture we should seek to cultivate in prayer.

An Invitation to Be Present  

Every session is an invitation to pause, reflect, and notice. You might talk about your prayer life, a decision you’re facing, or something stirring in your spirit that you can’t quite name. Your director will help you slow down enough to begin to reflect where God is moving, even in the smallest moments. Trust that showing up is enough. Direction isn’t about achieving anything; it’s about learning to pay attention to God. Let the space shape you, and trust that God is already present, waiting to meet you.

If you’re ready to explore spiritual direction but don’t know where to start, Exponent’s marketplace is a welcoming place to begin. You’ll find trained directors ready to walk alongside you as you step into this sacred journey.

“Hey, how’ve you been?” 

“Good. Staying busy!”

Sound like a common conversation you hear or have in daily conversation? Busyness has become like a state of being. It’s how we measure productivity and success. And if productivity and success is what determines our worth - how busy we are can unknowingly impact our sense of worth. As disciples of Jesus we must ask ourselves, “Is productivity and busy-ness forming who I am more than the ways of Jesus? What practices of Jesus can help teach and form me in the ways he promises will give my soul rest? (Matthew 11: 28-30)

"Rest is a spiritual discipline. Busyness is not a fruit of the spirit."

This is a maxim we shared with participants at a recent retreat in Southeast Asia. As disciples we want to follow and obey Jesus in all areas of life: this includes mission, evangelism, hospitality, teaching, healing, peace-making, as well as retreat and rest. The intention and practice of retreat is to focus on imitating Jesus by resting with God in extended time of silence and solitude.

Throughout the Gospels, Jesus often went away - sometimes with just a few disciples, and often by himself - to retreat from his work and ministry to be with the Father. After feeding the 5000 and sending everyone home, Jesus went up into the hills by himself to pray (Matthew 14:23). When the disciples return from ministry, Jesus invites them to go off to a quiet place to rest (Mark 6:31). As followers of Jesus, we are invited to imitate him in the same ways.

But who has time for a retreat? It can seem like a luxury. There are far more important things - things that we legitimately cannot step away from - job, family, kids, commitments at church. There’s no time. We’re too busy. At the same time, stress, anxiety, loneliness, overstimulation, and exhaustion tend to be what dominate our interior heart experiences. 

“This is what the Sovereign Lord, the Holy One of Israel, says: “Only in returning to me and resting in me will you be saved. In quietness and confidence is your strength. But you would have none of it.” Isaiah 30:15

We cannot draw water from a dry well. As disciples of Jesus, whether we are in full time ministry or not, it is important to take time to imitate Jesus in going away to be in solitude and silence with God. 

Ruth Haley Barton writes, “Retreat in the context of spiritual life is an extended time apart for the purpose of being with God and giving God our full and undivided attention.” We may be used to staff retreats that are really just extended times of work, or even youth retreats where days are filled with constant fun activities. In this kind of retreat however, the invitation is to be unproductive and rest - paying attention to what bubbles to the surface and allowing ourselves to take it to God in prayer. Agenda is not the goal of retreat, but simply the opportunity to waste time with God.

Why are Spiritual Retreats Essential for Spiritual Health? 

It’s like car maintenance. In order for our vehicles to last many years, it’s important to have a regular rhythm of oil changes. If not, it will do major damage to the vehicle. The same is true with our souls. Having a regular rhythm or discipline of retreat allows us to sit with God and reflect and replenish our souls. Weekly Sabbath can be one example of a miniature retreat. In addition to Sabbath, longer periods of time away are helpful for retreat - anywhere from three days to a week once or twice a year.

Furthermore, Emilie Griffin reminds us that retreat is not just for our own benefit, but also the benefit of those around us: “Whatever the spiritual benefits of our retreat time, we must always remember that these blessings are not only for ourselves but for the sake of the communities we belong to-our families, circles of friendship, our churches, society at large. The experience of God pours loving energy into us, qualifies us to serve others with charm and delight.” 

So what does it look like to practically plan and prepare for a retreat?

How to Plan and Prepare for a Meaningful Spiritual Retreat

A simple first step to retreat is to plan one day away. Mark a day or several hours  in your calendar where you can have some extended time of solitude. If possible 8 hours is a great place to start, but you can adjust time based on what is doable for your schedule. Think about places and spaces where you feel connected to God, and spend time there. Click here for a Spiritual Pathways assessment if helpful.

Look into Christian retreat centers in your region. Many offer guided retreats and housing and food, or you can schedule a private retreat based on your availability. Many retreat centers also have spiritual directors who can meet with you during your time. In addition to planning ahead, it’s helpful to keep a few things in mind while on a retreat.

Practical Tips While On Retreat

• Prayer is paying attention to God. So whatever practices help you pay attention to God get to count as prayer. 
• Do not try to produce any kind of experience, simply work to pay attention to God. 
• Be prepared for emotions and thoughts you have been avoiding to surface when you get into solitude. There are no right or wrong responses, but it is important to be hospitable to whatever memories or feelings emerge. 
• The Spirit intercedes with groanings too deep for words, so it is normal to not have words in prayer. 
• It’s good to have your Bible and a journal with you. Try not to read any other books for more than an hour during your time. 
• Rest is godly. If you discover you are more tired than you realize, take a nap. 
• If you find an experience overwhelming, disorienting, or unclear, it can be wise to talk to a spiritual director for personal spiritual coaching.

Plan a Spiritual Retreat: Explore Our Resources

A retreat is an important spiritual discipline in the life of a disciple of Jesus. Even more, it is an invitation - an invitation from God himself to rest, receive, replenish, and be restored. Download our free planning guide below, or check out our free prayer guides to see some simple prayer practices you can refer to while on retreat. We also have retreat templates that you can use individually or with your community.

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Have an idea for a retreat? We’d love to help you craft a custom retreat for your context. Contact us at info@exponentgroup.org

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How to Invite Someone into a Discipling Relationship

We have been entrusted with relationships that we deeply care about. Whether we are at work, in our neighborhoods, or socializing, we interact with people whom God also deeply cares about. The challenge we face is how to invite someone into a disciple-making relationship with us.

Conversation Types and Relationship Levels

We have observed three major shifts in conversations that occur before an invitation to disciple-making is accepted. Below are suggestions on how to transition between these types of conversations:

1. Casual Conversations

Start with everyday conversations about life. These casual interactions are the foundation of building trust and understanding.

2. Meaningful Conversations

To take the discussion deeper, ask questions about the current conversation. Actively listen to what they are saying and ask more questions to continue deepening the discussion. This helps you learn more about what they are dealing with and shows that you care.

3. Spiritual Conversations

Transition the discussion to something spiritual. You could share a piece of scripture that relates to their situation or perhaps an experience in your own life that God used to teach you something. Give the person time to reflect on this and see if they continue to show interest in discussing with you.

4. Discovery Conversations

If a person shows signs of interest in spiritual topics, ask them if they would like to explore what the Bible says about these topics sometime. Using a discovery Bible study process, participants can openly discuss their questions and concerns without feeling pressured into an agreement.

This is an edited excerpt from Lost Faith by Seth Bouchelle.

Learning from the Sermon on the Mount

At the outset of all our church plants, groups begin reading scripture in the Sermon on the Mount. I think Matthew 5-7 is the clearest manifesto of a life built around the imitation of Christ. If there was a rule book on how to play Kingdom, these teachings would be at the center of it. When our church groups are first forming the way we engage scripture is built around a common set of questions. We begin by discussing things we are thankful for since our last meeting, then we ask what needs and struggles each of us have at the moment and how we might help one another meet those needs. These initial questions become the foundation around which the group begins to develop in faith. Following these we read scripture and ask four questions:

What does this teach us about who God is?

What does this teach us about life?

How will we put this into practice this week?

Who will we share this with?

Structuring gatherings around inductive and self-correcting dialogue with scripture as the authority, we create churches that are not only highly reproducible by everyday disciples, but which also are communities of praxis for those seeking to follow Jesus in order to determine whether or not they believe he is Christ and Lord. 

Spiritual Formation through Relationship

Our communities operate this way because we are attempting to replicate something we see in pedagogy of Jesus: a respect for relationships and communal discernment. Unlike so many philosophies of teaching employed in our world, Jesus’ is one in which we - as fellow human beings - are invited to be discoverers and participants. For every direct teaching like the Sermon on the Mount, there are parables and object lessons that we are invited to hear, if we have the ears to. For every new command, there is an interaction around a table that Jesus is calling us to interpret and respond to for ourselves. Jesus may frequently make an “I am” statement - “the bread of life,” “the good shepherd,” etc - but he also draws us into the conversation asking, “Who do you say that I am?” It is this collaborative and inductive style of formation that we seek to emulate in our disciple-making work. We do this because we see modeled in Jesus a way of teaching that embraces the relationships formed in community as the locus for discerning and working out the implications of the good news about God’s Kingdom. We refer to these best practices, in our own team’s work, as “discovery” and a “process orientation.” Both are important principles for disciple-making in our contemporary context.

Facilitating Connection through Story

When this sort of culture is utilized in the disciple-making process, it not only shapes the content and style of our teaching to closer resemble what we see in scripture - one with the relational nature of human beings as central to our identities - it also facilitates a way of being church that fosters and empowers the priesthood of all believers. So when a new disciple seeks to process what she’s learning in scripture with others at work or on her block, she doesn’t need years of seminary training or a set of lesson plans to gather everyone around scripture and ask questions. And she doesn’t have to be intimidated about not having all the answers to everyone’s inquiries because she is not expected to be the center of authority and knowledge. She is able to facilitate the discovery and mutual seeking of her friends, and do so in a way that respects their prior knowledge and experiences as partners in a dialogue. I often will walk into a friend’s place of business and heard them telling a customer one of the parables that I told a few days before, and they are asking them, “What do you think this story is supposed to teach about how to live? What is this saying about who God is?” This is not a bait and switch question pushing another person toward conversion, it is a genuine example of people connecting around a story and seeking together to discover answers. 

Balancing Solitude and Community: The Rhythm of Spiritual Growth

As we seek to emulate the life of Jesus, we do so not as individuals but in community. And what we see in Jesus’ own person is a balance of community and solitude. He often withdraws so that he can then engage. He gives and reveals of himself, but then he must go away or move on to the next town. And in the communities he forms, the very nature of the relationships works to facilitate the communal discernment of how to live in Kingdom together. These gatherings must be made up of individuals who are deeply grounded in solitude, who know their own calling and identity before God, but who come together ready to discover and learn from one another. This is a body formed by Christ, it is a body which seeks to imitate Christ. This way of - while grounded in a contemplative attention to God - seeking after and imagining together an alternative to the order of things is what we call, “Church.” It is how we seek to form communities who are like Jesus in our world.