‘What Richard Foster and Dallas Willard were to my generation – prime tour guides to the spiritual life – I hope and believe Carl McColman will be for the next generation. If you don’t know about him and his work, you should.‘
Have you ever had a dream that shook you to your core? Or been given a book at the exact time you needed it? I know I have and if either of those ring true for you, you will raise your pint glass and cheer with what your ears are hearing from my guest today, Carl McColman.
Carl McColman is an author, blogger, speaker and Lay Cistercian. Carl also has a contagious laugh. I’m sure you’ll hear my own laughter deepen and extend with each one of Carl’s delightful guffaws. But back to Carl’s work…Carl has written numerous books including Christian Mystics: 108 Seers, Saints and Sages, Befriending Silence, Answering the Contemplative Call and The Big Book of Christian Mysticism. You can also find his writing on Patheos, in The Huffington Post, and Contemplative Journal. In our conversation here, Carl and I dive into the various meanings of the word ‘contemplative’, how a dream at the age of 18 inspired a friend to give him a copy of Evelyn Underhill’s classic book Mysticism, how his image of the Divine changed and deepened in the midst of loss, and the humbling and difficult work of loving our enemies. You can learn more about Carl at carlmccolman.net. Twitter: @CarlMcColman Facebook: @CarlMcColman
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EPISODE SHOW NOTES
Books by Carl McColman
- The Big Book of Christian Mysticism
- Befriending Silence: Discovering the Gifts of Cistercian Spirituality
- Christian Mystics: 108 Seers, Saints and Sages
- Answering the Contemplative Call
Resources Mentioned
- Smells Like Teen Spirit by Nirvana
- Mysticism by Evelyn Underhill
- Into the Silent Land: The Practice of Contemplation by Martin Laird
- The Eye of the Storm: Spiritual Resources for the Pursuit of Justice by Kenneth Leech
- Prayer and Prophecy: The Essential Kenneth Leech by Kenneth Leech and David Bunch
- The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien
People
- Pope Francis
- St. Ignatius
- Thomas Merton
- Thomas Keating
- Teresa of Avila
- John of the Cross
- Evelyn Underhill
- Martin Laird
- Richard Rohr
- Cynthia Bourgeault
- Ken Leech
- Julian of Norwich
- C.S. Lewis
- J.R.R. Tolkien
- William Blake
Practice
- Jesus Prayer
Drink Pairing
Highlights
When you hear the word “contemplative”, how does that moniker relate to you or work, if you think it does at all?
How do you define ‘contemplation’ and ‘mysticism’?
How do your practices manifest in your day-to-day life?
If someone were going to teach a class on the formation of Carl McColman, what 3 books that formed you would definitely be on that syllabus?
Can you share the dream you had just prior to reading Evelyn Underhill’s Mysticism?
You wrote a book, Christian Mystics: 108 Seers, Saints and Sages — is there anyone in particular that you feel especially connected to?
How has your image or vision of God changed over time?
What drink would you pair this conversation with?
Photo credit: Death To Stock Photo
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