“God never changes his mind about you. He is simply in love with you. What he does again and again is change your mind about him.” — Herbert McCabe OP
Many of us have been taught to imagine God as capable of changing his mind.
The idea that God is changeable (like us) can cause a great deal of unnecessary worry. People might wonder: how to win God’s favour? How to avoid displeasing God? How to be in ’the right place’ with God?
The classical understanding of God in Christianity (and across the great theistic traditions) affirms that God is unchanging. In this view, God never changes his mind; rather, through grace, our minds are changed — about God, about ourselves, about everything.
God is the unchanging source of all that changes, the eternal ground of all creation. And this is profoundly good news.
If God is unchanging, eternal love, then there is no beginning or end to God’s love. In the classical vision, there is no wrath or anger in God to be managed or overcome. No process was ever needed to reconcile God to us, for God has never ceased to be for us.
We might then ask, ‘What about prayer, especially petitionary prayer?’ If God is unchanging love, then prayer — even our most fervent petitions — cannot be about persuading God at all. Instead, prayer becomes the place where our own minds, hearts, lives and relationships are gently reshaped.
Drawing on the wisdom of a host of teachers from across the centuries, this half-day workshop will explore:
The event has been carefully crafted to be inclusive and accessible, welcoming anyone seeking truth, peace, and spiritual renewal, regardless of their faith, beliefs or previous experience of meditation.
The workshop will include two talks, time for conversation after each talk, and a period of silent meditation practice.
Following the workshop, all participants will receive recordings of the talks and a reading list. They will also be invited to an optional online discussion evening, where people can join small break-out groups of 5-6 people to continue exploring the ideas raised. Three dates will be offered and we’ll proceed with the most popular one.
Chris Whittington is the Founder of The School of Contemplative Life. He was introduced to contemplative practice during several years of formation when he lived at the Benedictine monastery of Prinknash Abbey in England. Chris’ monastic teachers taught meditation as a universal wisdom found within all the great spiritual traditions, a pathway to peace and solidarity with people of all faiths and none. Following an introduction by the Abbot of the Prinknash community, Chris subsequently studied at the Dalai Lama’s monastery in Dharamshala, India.
Chris regularly delivers talks, workshops and retreats and has introduced the practice of meditation in the Christian tradition to thousands of people in the UK and abroad. He is known for his ability to communicate the subtleties of the practice and complex spiritual texts in simple, practical ways, resonant with the challenges of daily life.
Chris is the author of The Missing Peace – Meditation as a Spiritual Path to Peace, Community and Oneness published by Canterbury Press.
In accordance with our Terms and Conditions (available in full here), our events should be understood as only providing spiritual guidance and advice to help participants deepen their own meditation practice and understanding. Many people report subjective improvements in general wellbeing through meditation practice. However, if you or anyone you intend to book a ticket for suffer from any mental, emotional or physical health conditions, please ask your medical practitioner if it is advisable for you/them to attend an event with us.
All our paid-for events are priced to cover costs (rather than make a profit) so they are as accessible as possible. However, if you are struggling to make ends meet, please don’t hesitate to email us and ask for information about our bursaries.