The annual Contemplative Outreach of Central Florida retreat was held December 6, 7 and 8 with Maru De Guevara at the beautiful Canterbury Retreat Center in Oviedo.  The silence and extended periods of Centering Prayer were complemented by Maru’s thoughtful presentations about our interrelatedness to each other and the planet itself.  She effectively used clips from the stunning National Geographic film series “One Strange Rock,” which featured interviews with astronauts who had cumulatively spent more than a thousand days in space and reflected on the oneness of the creation and its delicate balance of interdependence.  From it she drew insights for our spiritual lives as well explaining the 12th Principle of Contemplative Outreach that calls for engagement.

12. The practice of Centering Prayer deepens our awareness of the oneness of all creation and our compassion for the whole human family.
Centering Prayer inspires ever-increasing regard for others, especially for the poor and those abandoned or exploited in the various throw-away cultures of our time. We are invited to make available the gift of Centering Prayer to everyone, particularly to the needy and the marginalized. Centering Prayer also enables us to respond to the Divine presence in the whole human family, and in all of creation.

This is a portion of Maru’s Saturday afternoon presentation explaining the 12th Principle.