Just a thought on folk

There are many kinds of people and we can be described in many ways with many many interconnected descriptions, there are two specific descriptions I am currently thinking of.

Contemplative and Pragmatic.
These two are not opposites, nor are thy thorough descriptions but this is the thought I had.
There are monks who spend years learning to pray. Prayer is important and personally something I struggle with, the idea of stilling the mind and allowing the Spirit to come upon me. I do however appriciate contemplative prayer. I also appriciate a church service that helps me settle my mind to be able to pray contemplativly. A prayer that is not necissarily focused on things or people but more on a relationship with God in heaven. I spent my last year in seminary working on this aspect of prayer, it wasn't intercessory nor was it problem based, it was reliationship based. Part of it was simply about time and about focus, was I willing to give God the tired part of my day. I would attened different services in town that provided a high church atmosphere. It is important for a Christian whether he is a leader or not to be able to settle the mind and set in relationship with God.

There is also the pragmatic. Equally important. The pragmatic is out in the neighborhood and visible. The pragmatic is always taking requests and always praying for people and things. The pragmatic service is exciting and "spirit filled." It is a place where people can stand up and raise their hands and not worry about eyes on them or how people respond. It is very lively and when we leave the service we might say things like "We had church today."

Both functions can be communial, a group of monks can sit somberly and pray together, and by way of testimony both can be used to contemplate the goodness of God. But I think there is a fullness is being able to interchange between the two.

Have you silently let your heart be still and embraced God like Elijah? Have you praised the Lord in full spirit like Saul?