The study of differing forms and styles of prayer can lead one to an ancient method of approach called Lectio Divina. This method of prayer has, at it's peak, a closeness and comfortableness with God known as contemplation. The process involves the steps of reading scripture, meditating on what one has read, and praying about or with the studied passage(s). Ideally, these steps will lead the person to a level of indescribable closeness with God, in the deepest part of one's being. This has been described as “resting” in God.
Thomas Merton, a 20th century writer, uses an image of a spring and a stream to compare contemplation with action. A spring can only remain vital if its waters flow upward and outward (in streams).If there are no streams emerging from the spring, the spring becomes a stagnant pool. The outflowing of water gives the spring a chance to replenish itself and circulate its water. Likewise, if the stream loses its contact with its source, the spring, the stream dries up. Merton compares the spring to contemplation. If we are able to reach the point of genuine contemplation, that contact with the Divine will cause us to spring upward and outward. Our actions that result are like the streams that flow from the spring. Our contemplation with God gives life to our own inner spring. The resultant streams of action that flow out from us help to quench the thirst of the world around us.
So, to summarize, contemplation without action is like the spring without the streams flowing out of it, stagnant and useless. Likewise, the streams or our actions, when not resulting from contemplation, cannot serve God's purpose for us.
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