Mindful and Christian?
Ever since ‘discovering’ the practice of secular mindfulness I have been deeply impacted by the connections with my Christian faith. Many Christians are sceptical about a practice they consider to be ‘new age’ or ‘Buddhist’. I’ve co-written two publications, with Bishop Chris Edmondson, designed to show the rich Christian tradition of ‘mindfulness’ in the Bible and the long heritage of those practising what may have been called something else such as ‘contemplative prayer’.
The desire is both to help Christians reconnect with a tradition which can help them practise being present in the presence of God and to live more mindfully. But also, to enable the church to do what it can to offer support for those struggling with issues around poor mental health in their communities.
Chris and I are currently working, with others, on our third publication based on the first two commandments around the importance of loving God, neighbour and SELF. It’s hoped that we will publish Easter 2025 … watch this space
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Publications
In this publication, Karen Openshaw and Bishop Chris Edmondson make a compelling and timely case for the urgent need to make connections between the practice of mindfulness and the church’s call to mission.
Both these words can easily be misunderstood or hijacked. The authors helpfully unpack their respective meanings, locating their outworking and connectedness in the context of Scripture, as well as in examples from the long history of Christian tradition
Mindful Devotions: a 40-Day Journey Through the Bible
Following on from their first collaboration, ‘Mindfulness as Mission Gift’, in this publication Karen Openshaw and Chris Edmondson, along with other contributors, journey through the Bible noticing God’s mindfulness of people, the mindful life Jesus lived and our own need to live more mindfully in the challenges and uncertainties of the 21st century.
Retreats
Chris and I have also offered workshops in a variety of retreat houses and for organisations
including:-
Dr Roger Bretherton
Love this from Dr Roger Bretherton in National Retreat week. I often use this in my workshops: “Be still and know that I am God, Be still and know that I am, Be still and know, Be still, BE”