The Meeting Place: Quiet Spiritual Practices for Dwelling with God in Prayer - Paperback

by Laura Kauffman (Author)

An Invitation to Rest in God's Presence

We long to tangibly experience the presence of God--to come and see what the Lord has done, to be still and know our God. Far too often, that longing is swallowed up in the dings of technology, the demands of our schedules, and the duties of our faith. We are exhausted--and missing deep connection with the divine.

The Meeting Place is a guide to two ancient, proven practices for drawing near to God in a loud and distracting world: spiritual direction--the art of attending to God's movements in your life with the help of a trained companion--and contemplative prayer--the practice of quieting the mind and opening the heart to receive rather than speak. Together, these practices create a meeting place: a space of unhurried encounter between your soul and a God who is closer than you think.

Written for anyone who longs to experience God more deeply--especially those who feel new to contemplative practice, spiritually burned out, or simply too busy to stop--each chapter offers:
● A personal story--drawn from Laura Kauffman's own journey as a practicing spiritual director and poet, illuminating what she has discovered in the quiet
● A practical exercise--something you can try on your own or bring into community, designed to make ancient practices accessible in ordinary life

Laura Kauffman's writing has been described as turning a poet's eye toward the rhythms of daily life--a careful meditation on meaning found in what often goes unnoticed. That same quality of attention shapes every page of this book, making it ideal for personal devotional use, spiritual direction groups, or contemplative retreat settings.

If you long to be aware of the nearness of God, to rest in his presence, and to be equipped to listen to him, The Meeting Place is your guide toward an ever-deepening intimacy with God.

Back Jacket

An invitation to rest in God's presence

We long to tangibly experience the presence of God. We want to Come and see what the Lord has done and Be still and know our God. Far too often, though, that longing is swallowed up in the dings of technology, the demands of our schedules, and the duties of our faith. We are exhausted--and missing deep connection with the divine.

This book explores how the ancient practices of spiritual direction and contemplative prayer help us draw near to God in a loud, distracting world. Each chapter tells a story of what spiritual director and poet Laura Kauffman has discovered in her own practice and includes a practical exercise you can try privately or with your community.

If you long to be aware of the nearness of God, to rest in his presence, and to be equipped to listen to him, this book is your guide toward an ever-deepening intimacy with God.

Author Biography

Laura Kauffman is a spiritual director and poet from Glenwood, Iowa. After receiving a masters in counseling from Grace College in Winona Lake, Indiana, she joined a private practice where she counseled for several years until transitioning to full-time caregiving for her three boys. During that time, she led and taught formational prayer groups, spoke at retreats, participated in the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius, and self-published three collections of poetry. Since then, she has earned a certificate for completing a two-year spiritual direction training program and has begun her own spiritual direction practice.