‎… the existence of things… I suddenly realize that a given entity, man, mountain, or tree, exists and exercises that sovereign activity TO BE in its own way, in an independence from me which is total, totally self-assertive and totally implacable.*

The fact that this experience never gets old means that it’s “contemplative”. But it doesn’t have to be of the order of grace. It could be a natural experience. It could be the theoria or “contemplation” of the philosophers.

However, I think it leads very naturally to a loving attention to God’s presence in our daily lives, in our daily crises, and in our daily bread.

But in itself, it might not be contemplation as suffering the deep things of God by inspiration of the Holy Spirit.

Just a comment.

* Jacques Maritain, The Range of Reason.