Human Story: Phileena Heurtz

In her late thirties, Phileena Heurtz was on the brink of burnout. She had spent more than half her life in social justice work among the world’s poor. Together with her husband, Chris, she worked with Word Made Flesh in some of the darkest and most desperate situations in the world. They served in more than 70 countries, building community with former child soldiers, children with HIV and AIDS, war brides, and victims of human trafficking. Throughout that time, they engaged with incredible human suffering and brutality. At the height of the war in Sierra Leone, the pain and suffering Phileena witnessed became unbearable.

After almost twenty years of service, she went on sabbatical attempting to create more space within herself to process all of the life and death she witnessed. Through spiritual direction and walking an ancient pilgrimage, Phileena encountered ancient contemplative practices that began to open the depths of her heart, where she held the pain and suffering of the world. She needed to surrender her heart to Christ to heal, refill and bring wholeness. As motivation, she held close the words of an early mentor, Mother Teresa, “The inner life makes the active life burn forth and consume everything, it makes us find Jesus in the dark holes of the slums and the most pitiful miseries of the poor, in the God-Man naked on the cross, mournful, despised by all, the man of suffering, crushed like a worm by scourging and crucifixion.”

Stillness, solitude, and silence became three of Phileena’s greatest teachers. Through cultivating consistent spiritual practices, she began to diligently treat her heart as a wellspring of life that would overflow into her work of bringing justice to the world’s most marginalized. Choosing to dedicate twenty minutes to centering prayer, twice a day became a discipline that Phileena integrated into the daily rhythms of her life. Her diligence in seeking and persistently practicing contemplative prayer has transformed her capacity to serve others.

“A meditation practice like centering prayer helps us open to the process of being reformed. The work of transformation is God’s. We must only cooperate by putting forth effort to make time for spiritual practice. Spiritual practice is our way of saying ‘yes’ to God, letting God do for us what we cannot do for ourselves. Over time as we yield to this mysterious work of Grace in us, we are changed, little by little.”

Currently, Phileena and Chris are the co-founders and directors of Gravity Center, a retreat center for Contemplative Activism. There they share the wisdom, “Solitude teaches us to be present. Silence teaches us to listen. Stillness teaches us to engage... This spirituality anchors us in a way that allows us to be transformed, so that the world can be transformed.” Phileena is still serving those in the margins of society by nourishing and equipping the souls of those in ministry of social justice. Phileena speaks, teaches and writes about contemplative spirituality, gracefully guiding others toward personal growth, bringing harmony to the active and contemplative dimensions of life.

References:
https://cct.biola.edu/doing-good-better-active-contemplation/
www.phileena.com
http://wordmadeflesh.org/center-of-gravity

Lesson: Proverbs 4:20-27 (NKJV)

My son, give attention to my words; Incline your ear to my sayings.
Do not let them depart from your eyes; Keep them in the midst of your heart;
For they are life to those who find them, And health to all their flesh.
Keep your heart with all diligence, For out of it spring the issues of life.
Put away from you a deceitful mouth, And put perverse lips far from you.
Let your eyes look straight ahead, And your eyelids look right before you.
Ponder the path of your feet, And let all your ways be established.
Do not turn to the right or the left; Remove your foot from evil.

A proverb is a short, poetic saying that “expresses an insight, observation, or advice that has been popularly accepted as a general truth…if applied at the right time.” It is important to note that proverbs are not promises. They are not universal absolutes. Job and Ecclesiastes remind us of this fact. Proverbs are advice to live by as we attempt to live a good life. Proverbs 1-9 is a section composed of lessons from a father to a son. The ultimate question that Proverbs sets up for its reader is, “Will you dine with Woman Wisdom or Woman Folly?” Woman Wisdom represents God, and Woman Folly is all the false gods that entice followers away from God.

The Hebrew word “heart” wasn’t just the internal organ that pumped blood throughout the body. It was used to describe where we think (intellectual), feel (emotional), and desire (affection). In Proverbs the father commands his son to “guard,” “keep,” or “watch over” his heart. The idea is one of protection, and protection requires diligence. If a soldier is given a task to guard a prisoner, the soldier would not put on headphones and take a nap. Guarding requires attention, alertness, sobriety, and diligence. To paraphrase, the father is saying “The part of you responsible for making yourself you…protect it. Keep it safe.”

The father’s point is that everything we do flows from this decision-and-person-making organ; thus it contains the “sources of life.” The heart can be the source of much good if properly protected, but this protection does not come naturally. It requires careful, persistent work, nothing sloppy or lazy because folly crouches at the door. The spirit of the advice is captured in the command of Jesus: “Stay awake” (Mark 13:37). As His followers, let us be diligent in protecting our thoughts, feelings, and desires.

Reference: How to Read Proverbs by Tremper Longman

Remembrance: “Blessing from Wisdom’s House”

May Wisdom’s long-lasting blessings be upon me.
Keep me from short-sightedness and the ease of the crowded road.
For narrow is the way and full is the heart on the path of Your blessing.
Keep me on that path as I lie down at night.
Keep me on that path as I set out again by day.

Challenge

Phileena’s experience with centering prayer was transformative and healing. Centering prayer is a very simple, contemplative Christian practice that is deeply nourishing to one’s soul.

1. Sit in an upright, attentive posture in a way that allows for an erect spine and open heart. Place hands in your lap.
2. Gently close your eyes and bring to mind your sacred word or image as your symbol to consent to the presence and action of God within you. Your sacred symbol is intended to be the same every time you pray. It helps to ground you in the present moment, allowing you to give your undivided loving, yielded attention to God. Choose a name for God or a characteristic for God like, Love, Peace, etc.

3. Silently, with eyes closed, recall your sacred symbol to begin your prayer. As you notice your thoughts, gently return to your sacred word. Do this however many times you notice your thoughts.

4. When your prayer period is over, transition slowly from your prayer practice to your active life. Begin with 5 minutes of prayer and over time increase to 20 or more minutes.

https://gravitycenter.com/practice/centering-prayer/

Reflection

“Solitude teaches us to be present. Silence teaches us to listen. Stillness teaches us to engage.” How are you guarding your heart today? In our days full of information, to-do lists, disruptions, disappointments, and even successes, we can grow weary, even depleted. Do you have established practices to restore your soul? Consider adding solitude, silence and stillness to your routines.

Further Growth: 3rd Sunday of Epiphany

2021
Old Testament: Jeremiah 3:19-4:4
Psalm: Psalm 130
New Testament: 1 Corinthians 7:17-24
Gospel: Mark 1:14-20

2020
Old Testament: Amos 3:1-11
Psalm: Psalm 139:1-18
New Testament: 1 Corinthians 1:10-17
Gospel: Matthew 4:12-22