Both And

Just because you are contemplative it does not mean that you may evade the call of Christ to make life better for other people. Also, Jesus taught that in serving those in need that you ultimately met and served him as well. The service of others is not an end-all; when you meet hardship in doing so there is no reason for giving up on the direct experience of God.

In discussing grace and free will in Conference XIII, John Cassian writes:

These two then; viz., the grace of God and free will seem opposed to each other, but really are in harmony, and we gather that we need to have both alike, lest if we withdraw one of them...we may seem to have broken...faith, for when God sees us inclined to will what is good, God meets, guides, and strengthens us.

If this is true of grace and free will does it no also apply to the tension between contemplation and service, so that when one becomes difficult or disenchanting or outright a failure that the other does not draw us back into the orb of God presence, influence, and love?