How Does Contemplative Practice Benefit Us — And the Communities We Are Part Of?

In response to an old blog post of mine, Between Shambhala and the Catholic Church, one reader tweeted the following:

These questions are too big for twitter, but  Does contemplative practice bring unique gifts/experience to "saving the burning building," beyond protecting us and teaching us how to tell the truth? And how does it do these things?

Our Lady of Constant Reproach (@met_annoy_a) April 26, 2020

Maybe those questions were big for Twitter, but I appreciate you asking them. Let me...