Joyful Contemplation (No Fooling!)

Why are all these pious people laughing? (Cover art from Between Heaven and Mirth by James Martin, artist: Anita Kunz).

If you are engaged in a serious and sustained practice of silent prayer and contemplative spirituality, then you need to be a very somber, sober, and serious person, for the mystical life is no laughing matter. . . .April Fool!

I was inspired to write about this topic not only because today is April 1, but also because of what is arguably the single most problematic topicin...