037: Exploring the Silence and Laughter of Eternity with Carl McColman

037: Exploring the Silence and Laughter of Eternity with Carl McColman

‘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.

– Brian D. McLaren

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

Resources Mentioned

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