Thanks to the blog A Solitary Bird, I’ve become more aware of a wonderful passage (saying) from Saint John of the Cross on contemplation and contemplative life, which is also applicable to ways of life that can be lived in the world (outside the cloister):

The traits of the solitary bird are five: first, it seeks the highest place; second, it withstands no company; third, it holds its beak in the air; fourth, it has no definite color; fifth, it sings sweetly. These traits must be possessed by the contemplative soul.

It must rise above passing things, paying no more heed to them than if they did not exist. It must likewise be so fond of silence and solitude that it does not tolerate the company of another creature. It must hold its beak in the air of the Holy Spirit, responding to his inspirations, that by so doing it may become worthy of his company. It must have no definite color, desiring to do nothing definite other than the will of God. It must sing sweetly in the contemplation and love of its Bridegroom.

On her blog, A Solitary Bird gives a beautiful commentary, too.

I don’t think there’s anything in this that is necessarily in contrast to being a contemplative in the world. After all, in seeing Jesus in our neighbours, we “hold our beak in the air of the Holy Spirit”; but in dying to imagination and sense and becoming detached, we, after a sense, “do not tolerate the company of another creature”.

A bit counter-intuitive, but that’s life in the world for you. ^^