Knowing with the Whole Self
- Hope Centering
- 4 days ago
- 2 min read
Week 11: October 21, 2025 | Theme: Knowing with the Whole Self
How do we truly come to know God?
That was the question at the heart of this Tuesday's Centering Prayer gathering at Hope Ridge United Methodist Church in Mentor, Ohio. We often think of knowing as something we do with the mind, through reading, study, or understanding. But contemplative teacher and author Cynthia Bourgeault, in her book The Wisdom Way of Knowing, invites us to see wisdom as a whole-body practice. Something we experience through the mind, heart, and body working together.
The Three Centers of Knowing
In the ancient wisdom tradition, three centers of knowing are recognized:
The Mind: where we think and perceive.
The Heart: where we love, feel, and discern.
The Body: where we live, act, and embody what we believe.
Our world often favors the mind, but Bourgeault reminds us that we cannot “think” our way into truth. Wisdom arises when all three centers come into balance; when the mind grows quiet, the heart softens, and the body feels grounded. In that harmony, we begin to sense God’s presence moving through us.
Scripture Focus: Mark 12:30
“Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.”
This passage mirrors the same teaching: to love and know God not only through thought or emotion but through our whole being. As we sat together in silence, this verse became a living invitation: to bring all of ourselves before God, just as we are.
Reflection in Knowing with the Whole Self
After our time of prayer, we considered what it means to live with an integrated awareness.When the mind is still, the heart open, and the body grounded, divine presence flows naturally, not as something we chase, but as something we allow.
A few questions we carried into reflection:
Which of my three centers: mind, heart, or body feels most alive right now?
How might I bring these centers into greater balance throughout the week?
Where have I experienced God’s presence when I stopped trying to figure things out and simply rested in love?
Closing Thought
“Wisdom is not about knowing more, it’s about knowing with more of you.” - Cynthia Bourgeault
As you move through your week, may you pause to notice how your thoughts, feelings, and actions work together. When all three align, we awaken to the simple, steady presence of God already within and around us.
About Centering Prayer at Hope Ridge
Centering Prayer is a quiet, contemplative practice of resting in God’s presence. Our group meets weekly in the Library at Hope Ridge United Methodist Church, offering a welcoming space for silence, reflection, and shared community. Each gathering includes gentle guidance, 20 minutes of silence, and time for reflection.
Whether you’re new to contemplative prayer or have practiced for years, all are welcome.
Hope Ridge United Methodist Church is located at 9870 Johnnycake Ridge Rd, Mentor, OH 44060 Centering prayer meets Tuesdays at 6:30 PM in the church library.
For more information, click here or email the group facilitator.
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