Centering prayer radiates through lives

By Marijke Fakasiieiki

Four Spokane churches—two Episcopal and two Catholic—host five groups that gather to offer Contemplative Practice in Centering Prayer, incorporating contemplative teachers such as Trappist monk Thomas Keating in finding a space to connect with the Divine.

The churches are St. John's Episcopal Cathedral, St. Stephen's Episcopal, and St. Aloysius and St. Francis of Assisi Catholic parishes.

Fifteen years ago, Mike and Jean Walters started participating in a centering prayer group facilitated by Gary Meisenburg at St. Aloysius. After four years, they developed a three-part program at St. Francis of Assisi Parish that includes a book club.

Jean LaBauve and Gary now facilitate a group at St. John's.

Pam Strickland facilitates a group at St. Stephen's.

Jed Maclaurin facilitates a group at St. Aloysius.

Jack Venbrux facilitates a second group at St. Francis of Assisi.

"Centering prayer provides the grace for participants to be open. It is more caught than taught. It is about surrendering," said Mike, a retired electrical technician who "stumbled on" the practice at age 60.

"I realized in this practice, there are fruits. I seem to be calmer, more centered and focused, not striving to make things happen," he said.

During COVID, Jack, a counselor who now facilitates the Sunday practice, shared that he was looking for a group that didn't have all the answers and had an element of mystery. He wanted a place where it was okay to not have faith all figured out. He found it life-giving.

Participants come from all walks of life—common folks to university presidents, counselors and judges.

"Somehow, we find the divine within ourselves. We follow the teachings of mystics, who are humans like the rest of us, who remind us that what we are seeking, we already have," said Mike.

Even though participants come from different backgrounds, they feel accepted as they integrate contemplative prayer into their Christian faith.

At a week-long retreat Mike attended, the monk, Laurence Freeman, was asked how long a person would need to practice this before seeing fruits. He said, maybe 15 to 20 years. The group laughed. He didn't. He pointed out that in staying with contemplation, one finds something deeper that may be hidden in plain sight.

 "Many people in church services are uncomfortable, anxious or afraid of silence, but find energy by sitting in a group, hearing stories of how the practice deepens their faith and life," Mike pointed out.

Jed, who has been in Spokane for 10 years, grew up atheist and later became Buddhist. While attending Portland Seminary in Tigard, Ore., a site of George Fox University, which was founded by Quakers in Newberg, Ore., he discovered centering prayer. For five years, he was a Quaker pastor in Vancouver, Wash., before coming to Spokane to pursue a doctoral degree in leadership studies at Gonzaga.

Wanting to be more centered, he explored meditation and gravitated to centering prayer and Contemplative Outreach, a spiritual network of individuals and groups, which he said helped him be more grounded in his private life.

"Centering prayer is international, and the contemplative practice is not linked to any denomination," said Jed.

"It's important to dial into the present moment and the world around us. The practice helps us become aware of how 'unpresent' we are most of the time," he added.

"Anxiety is a universal feeling that drains people. Being at peace makes our efforts more effective. The heart of contemplation is listening, being still, making room for God's presence and finding our deeper self. When thoughts and words fall away, we can be more present. Cultivating that presence helps in other aspects of our lives," said Jed.

"It's a practice to observe ourselves and what is going on around us. It takes a while and can't be mastered in a week. So, it's important for new practitioners to set aside 10, 15 or 20 minutes a day to sit and connect with materials on contemplative prayer. Sitting together in a group provides participants with energy and helps us become more comfortable with silence," he said.

In his stressful work as a realtor, Jed said, centering prayer has helped him to be more present with his clients.

"The more I am still and present in the moment with the people around me, the more I can make a difference in what I do," he said. "When I'm stressed and my mind is agitated, it's hard to be still and meditate. I have a hyperactive mind. I'm not well-suited to contemplation, but I need it."

In today's turbulent times, he finds it helpful to gather with others to help him maintain his personal practice in daily life.

Each of the facilitators has a different focus for their programs, but it is based on the same kind of practice. That practice is to sit in silence for a period and choose a focus word with breath, which provides an opportunity to go deeper than thoughts, feelings, emotions and memories, with the goal of surrendering to the process.

"Some people struggle with having thoughts. The mind does not necessarily step aside when someone tries to stay silent," said Mike. "There is nuance to recognizing thought. If people do not engage, their thoughts quiet down. The same is true with memory and emotion, whatever sensation we are up against."

Attendance ranges from two to 20. Some attend more than one group.

"Meditative prayer isn't familiar to most Protestants and Catholics. I send a letter to new people covering the basics, like how long the prayer lasts. I recommend they read Keatings' book Open Mind, Open Heart and other contemplative resources," said Gary, a retired nurse from Sacred Heart Medical Center who learned about the contemplative heritage from a Jesuit priest at Seattle University. Writings by mystics like Thomas Merton and yearly retreats at a Trappist abbey in Carlton, Ore., sustain his spiritual journey.

At the cathedral, participants gather like monastics when Gary rings a responsive gong. After a short reading of the lectio divina or another text, people can sit where they want. When Gary rings a gong a second time, the group comes back for a blessing. On Zoom, they start with silence and a teaching, then have group discussion and a blessing, said Jean LaBauve, who discovered 40 years ago that her lifetime prayer experience had a name.

Gary spoke of the value of centering prayer for people experiencing burnout.

"These times are stressful. This practice is unifying for those who come together. There is a sense of peace and calmness that radiates from this practice," he said.

Jean, who retired from a career as a learning specialist at Eastern Washington University, Spokane Colleges and Washington State University, said that "before action comes deep connectivity to the Divine. We begin by putting aside words, humbling ourselves and embracing the mystery of the Divine. All faiths are welcome.

"Our loving actions in the world are an outpouring of that experience of mystery," said Jean.

The St. John's group meets with Gary and Jean at 5:30 p.m., first and third Tuesdays in the sanctuary at 127 E. 12th Ave. and at 5:30 p.m., second, fourth and fifth Tuesdays on Zoom.

A second group meets from 9 to 9:45 a.m., first Wednesdays, at St. Stephen's.

A third group meets with Jed at 10:30 a.m. Thursdays at St. Aloysius, 330 E. Boone in room A of the parish center.

A fourth group meets with Mike and Jean at St. Francis of Assisi School, downstairs in room 1 for Beginning Centering Prayer on Tuesdays at 10 a.m. in person and Thursdays at 7 p.m. on Zoom. Educational programs are at 7 p.m., Mondays and Fridays, and 6:30 a.m., Wednesdays, on Zoom.

A fifth group gathers in person at 2 p.m., second Sundays, in room 1 St. Francis of Assisi School Building, 1104 W. Heroy.

For information, contact Gary and Jean at 747-2942 or jeanlabauve@yahoo.com; Pam at pas930@gmail.com; Jed at 808-0611 or jedmaclaurin@gmail.com, Mike at 939-2185 or waltersmichaelh@gmail.com, or Jack at jvenbrux@gmail.com, or visit contemplativeoutreach.org or the Center for Action and Contemplation at cac.org.