See Reality and Its Depth

In life, there is a way to be fully present and yet experience the depth of what is present. There must be a way to be both here and in the depth of here. It’s not about escaping into something beyond, but about seeing more clearly what is right here. Jesus is fully present. The Christ is the deeper reality, the fullness we often overlook. This is the heart of incarnation. We must learn to love and enjoy things as they are, in their depth, in their soul, and in their fullness. Contemplation helps us recognize the depth and soul of things. Contemplation is the 'second gaze,' through which we see something in its particularity and yet also in a much larger frame.

We find joy in things when we see them for what they are, not for what they can do for us. Money, power, or success cannot compare to the deep satisfaction of this way of seeing. Art, in its many forms, often reflects this insight. It invites us into an encounter that takes us beyond the surface, leading us to the soul of the work and back into the present moment with a greater appreciation. Both these pieces of art put the two worlds together, just from different perspectives.

This is the gift of contemplation: to see both the reality and the depth of reality. It’s a transformative way of living, and through it, we are invited into a deeper understanding of ourselves, others, and the divine that moves through all things.