About the Book
What if the peace you long for isn’t something to earn or strive for, but a sacred treasure already within you, waiting in silence to be discovered? What if this discovery could transform not just your life, but the world around you?
The Missing Peace invites you into a deeper, more spacious way of living—rooted in the Christian wisdom tradition and born of our collective longing to encounter the divine nature of life. Chris Whittington, founder of The School of Contemplative Life, speaks to those feeling overwhelmed by mental noise, disconnected from God, or adrift in a restless, conflicted world.
Drawing from an almost forgotten wellspring of ancient wisdom reaching back to the Desert Fathers and Mothers, he illuminates a pathway to peace, not through striving, but silence. He speaks to anyone longing for a simple, life-changing spiritual practice but struggling to find the path or companions to walk it with.
The Missing Peace begins with Chris’ story―from a secular upbringing to formation at a Benedictine monastery ―interweaving personal narrative with deep spiritual insight. These 43 short reflections offer timeless wisdom and a spiritual practice that research suggests can help us live with greater peace, compassion, connection to God, and alignment with our deepest values— a new way of being that can help us recover the missing peace, together.
About the Author :
Chris Whittington is the founder of The School of Contemplative Life. He was introduced to contemplative practice during several years of formation at the Benedictine monastery of Prinknash Abbey, England. Chris has introduced the practice of meditation from the Christian wisdom tradition to thousands of people and hosts the largest Christian meditation practice group in the UK.
Review :
'While we continue to see fewer and fewer people regularly attending church services, their deep, genuine longing for the depth-dimension of Christianity has only grown through the years. Sadly, most Christians have absolutely no idea that Christianity has anything to say about this, much less that it has its own vibrant contemplative tradition. This is largely due to the fact that it has never been presented to them. The School of Contemplative Life will surely rate among the most significant responses to the spiritual longings of the people of this nation and abroad. Through its debut book The Missing Peace, its growing online practice community and thoughtfully designed programme of retreats, the School will directly nourish and cultivate the depth-dimension of life, offering Christians – and seekers from all traditions – an accessible pathway to the wellspring of silence, compassion and peace flowing within. Simply put, there is no other organization in this country quite like this, dedicated to helping people discover their groundless Ground, the eternal Mystery ever hidden with Christ in God.'
“This book is a strong invitation to discover meditation as a liberating and life-giving dimension of the Christian life, as it is for those of many other religions.”
'This is indeed a valuable contribution to the literature on contemplation in the modern world.'
'This is a most remarkable book. The author makes plain a wisdom tradition that has been largely hidden for centuries. With great clarity, the practice of contemplative meditation is de-mystified for the modern era. A sure guide on the path of transforming silence, this is a book to read slowly, to absorb, to live rather than analyse. The Missing Peace invites us to clear a space in which to become aware of God’s presence—and, in opening to this presence, to be opened to each other and the whole of creation. We come to know that all created beings are of one piece, created by the same Spirit, interrelated, and that nothing is separate. We may feel powerless in the face of today’s global adversities, believing there is little we can do to help. But as the author writes: “When we are peaceful, even though we may well be unaware of it, we create small ripples of peace around us.” If we live the peace that lights the pages of this little book—the peace of God within—we will each bring sparks of this missing peace to the world.'
'Many years ago, one of the greatest discoveries in my life was that of silent prayer and being still. In a world of constant noise, distraction and conflict, The Missing Peace is an invitation to discover the treasure of silent prayer and enter more deeply into the mystery of God’s love as we go on becoming who we are in relationship with God, neighbour, creation, and with ourselves. This book reflects the wisdom and insight of both ancient and contemporary teachers, with Jesus Christ at the heart. This inspiring and beautiful book is not only deeply nourishing but is also extremely accessible and practical. With all that is taking place around us and within us, this book will be a good personal companion as the stories of our lives unfold.'
“To be a peacemaker means, first of all, becoming a person of contemplative prayer and active nonviolence. When the nonviolent Jesus calls us to be peacemakers, he invites us to be as nonviolent as him and like him, to spend intimate time each day with the God of peace that we might be disarmed to go forth into the world of war and spread God’s peace through universal love and nonviolent action.
“The Missing Peace” offers beautiful, short reflections for the daily practice of contemplative peace which I intend to keep close by for those moments when I’m missing peace and struggling to stay nonviolent and loving. I hope everyone will take up these guidelines for the journey of contemplation, active nonviolence and Gospel peacemaking, that together, we might all become peacemakers, the sons and daughters of the God of peace.”
“Chris Whittington is an engaging and trustworthy guide to the ancient contemplative tradition of the Christian church; in this luminous collection based on a series of short talks, he shows his readers where to find the wells that contain the fresh spiritual waters for which so many in our culture thirst. It is wisdom drawn from the Bible and from two millennia of practice; wisdom made accessible and practicable. Paradox abounds: what we most want is what we already have; the inner turmoil which disturbs and distracts us is in truth the gateway to blessings; the deepest desire of our hearts can only be come by if we let go of our desire for it. Now more than ever, many of us are ready to study, ready to be taught, ready to learn together about how peace can knit us back together and renew our hope. Here we find out who God is and who we are; how to dive into the depths of our being, go exploring in the cave of our hearts, and find the treasure that is joy and peace.”
'At the beginning of ‘The Missing Peace’, Chris Whittington quotes Thomas Merton: “In prayer we discover what we already have. You start from where you are, and you deepen what you already have, and you realize you are already there. We already have everything, but we don’t know it and don’t experience it. Everything has been given to us. All we need to do is experience what we already possess.” This book does just that. It helps us discover what we have and shows us where to start and all that we through prayer and contemplation can recognise, deepen and become. Chris Whittington leads us with a simple clarity, wisdom and truthfulness. Drawing on writers of wisdom and his own experience this is a very valuable guide for all those who seek the life-giving path of the Spirit.'
“Chris Whittington’s new book, The Missing Peace, is a wonderful, timely and important contribution to the growing spiritual awakening in our time. It is a particularly helpful and accessible resource in our journey of prayer and spiritual transformation. The structure of the book is beautifully organised. Chris simply and elegantly explores important theological, psychological and practical wisdom, insights and resources for our journey towards resting in interior silence and stillness. The School of Contemplative Life is a wonderful growing practice community which meets twice weekly online with hundreds of people joining to learn, meditate and share together. The School is becoming a major spiritual oasis in our time. I believe this book will significantly contribute to the restoration of Christian contemplative theological and psychological wisdom and practice for individuals and communities today. The beauty, love, and joy of this essential teaching—its simple practice and path of interior stillness—shine through the book and the School, offering a way to personal transformation and to the healing of society and the world.”
'The short meditations found in this book are an elegant invitation to enter into meditative prayer. Each of them summons the soul afresh to encounter the living God. In our hectic world and these uncertain times, the search for the divine Source of an indomitable and abiding peace may seem beyond our reach. This simple, unassuming guide, however, can help the receptive reader discover its presence within. I heartily recommend this fine volume.'
'This is the book I wish I could have had 20 years ago when I was first drawn to Christian meditation. I have read some wonderful classics, but not many of these were a good place to start. The Missing Peace gently shows the way to greater awareness that our home is in God. The author shares much wisdom of a deep and long tradition, and reminds us that, even when we seem to be blindly stumbling, we are on the way and we are not alone.'
