The Adjective "Contemplative"

One of the reasons for putting the word contemplative
   in front of the word photographer
      is to be found, I believe, in word origin.
In the middle of that first word is temple,
   which comes from the Latin templum.
The root word is tem and it means “to divide.”
In Roman times a templum was a sacred building
   built on ground that had been “tem-ed,” divided—
      special ground that had been separated
            from the ordinary ground all around it.
As I understand it, to be contemplative
   means to attempt to be in touch with “templeness,”
      wherever it is to be found.
I once spent two weeks alone
   photographing the cathedrals of England,
      surrounded by templeness from morning til night.
Daily I was captured by loftiness and grandeur,
   by rich quietness and inviting mystery.
I was enveloped by architecture that announced,
   “Sacredness is right here.”
I believe our role as contemplative photographers
   is to stay open to the sacred,
      to watch for its appearances,
         to listen for its sounds.
We are to remain alert for any hint of templeness
   we may find on earth.
It may be in a soaring cathedral.
Or a grove of quaking aspens.
Or a solitary tulip stretching for the sky.
It may even be in two smooth stones
   resting in the crevice of a rock.
Something says, “Look! Templeness!”
And the contemplative photographer pays attention,
   responds internally,
      then responds with camera.