Tag Archives: solitude

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More Fruits of Solitude (Pt 2)


I’ve mentioned in this blog that I lead quite a few days of solitude and silence for Christian leaders every month. It is my most favorite and fruitful ministry. Sometimes these days are for an unrelated group who gather for a single day together. Sometimes it’s a leadership team from a particular Christian ministry. I’ve often said that one of the greatest “fringe benefits” of my ministry is that I have days like these regularly because my work is to provide them for others. When I lead these days, I often write in my journal during the time alone and quiet before God. Below are a few scattered notes from such a day a while back.

On distraction. I’ve discovered I haven’t much power over whether or not I will be distracted in these days alone with God. Noises or interruptions will come from outside of me. Thoughts or feelings will arise from within me. I don’t know how to stop this. What I do have some control over is how I respond or react to these involuntary distractions. I can choose to get wrapped up in solving, wrestling with or otherwise engaging them, or I can decide not to bite the bait and simply let them pass. It’s not as easy as it sounds, but it’s good work when I do it.

On the creative benefits of solitude with God. What have been some of the practical fruits of this regular practice of time alone and quiet before God? What good things have come for me or for others in them?

  • Creativity – drawings, poems, prose, songs.
  • Wisdom, insight and perspective.
  • Peace and rest.
  • A greater and simpler awareness of God with me.
  • A sense of fresh encounter with God
  • A sense of being loved and favored by God.
  • A heart at restful attention with God.
  • When shared with others, a deeper sense of community and unity, even with others who are very different from me.

On the Benedictine vow of stability. This vow is simply a way of saying that there is usually great virtue in staying put, rather than moving on. Do we need to hear this in our dramatically mobile culture? How many marriages have been abandoned that could instead now be much more fruitful through perseverance and willing work? How many have stepped away from one church fellowship just when conflict or challenge could have resulted in new places of rootedness in and reliance on Jesus?

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More Fruits of Solitude


Bethlehem, Church of the NativityOne of my favorite ministry opportunities is providing what a mentor, Wayne Anderson, called “EPC”s (Extended Personal Communion with God). I wrote about this in chapter 10 of An Unhurried Life. Recently, I led a day like this with a group of leaders. After a few hours alone and quiet with God, we came back together to debrief our experiences.

As I was listening to the creative and unique ways that God had been present to each one, I realized that what I enjoy far more than being a speaker or presenter is being a facilitator of vital encounters with Jesus. This skill is not so much about putting words together in a way that is entertaining, interesting or captivating. (I won’t discount that God often gives me a one-liner that seems to help others, but I enjoy those more when they come in an interactive moment rather than in a one-way lecture).

I really feel I’m at my best in those interactive moments like a debrief. Someone shares a story of their encounter with God, and a thought comes that seems to help put that encounter into some context, or helps others identify with and enter into it. It is these encounters and this interaction that seems to be a catalyst for people actually practicing the presence of Jesus rather than talking about his practice.

I like having unhurried time and space like a retreat where people open more to God, then I can come along and help them more deeply understand and appreciate those encounters.

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Here’s a practical insight that came during this particular debrief. One of the participants shared that they felt drawn to begin fasting. I shared that when we practice disciplines of “not doing” something, like solitude (no company), silence (no conversation), fasting (no eating), secrecy (no seeking recognition for our good ) or simplicity (no unnecessary spending), it causes our desires to become focused. When the desire for conversation inevitably surfaces in the midst of silence, I can say, “I do want conversation, but I want Jesus more.” Or in solitude, I can say, “I do want company, but I want Jesus more.”

In fasting, this is where I learn deeply that we do not live only by the bread we eat, but by everything God communicates to us. “I do want food, but I want Jesus more.” Disciplines of abstinence bring focus to our desires. When I find my desires scattered here and there, it may be good to ask which disciplines of disengagement is Jesus inviting me to practice to bring focus to my desires.

 

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Following Jesus Into Solitude


IMG_1066One of the writers who has provided me rich counsel in cultivating Jesus’s own rhythm of work and rest has been Elton Trueblood (1900-1994). Below is my paraphrase of a quotation from his book, The Lord’s Prayers (1965).

At times, Jesus would invite His disciples away from the demands of ministry and take them with Him alone and quiet in retreat. The gospel of Mark shows Jesus inviting them: “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest (Mark 6:31).” Is there any better rationale than this for busy people in serving, healing, teaching and ministering professions getting away for regular times of retreat? These times of stepping away are no sign of failure or actual loss, but are an opportunity to regather resources for the good work given us by God. We return to the work of ministry renewed, revitalized and ready again. Such a rhythm results in greater progress than is produced by continual labor. Every busy person should see their lives in chapters. Some chapters involve active and hard work. Other chapters involve rest and preparation. In our hectic, busy world, it grows harder to find times and places to be alone and quiet with God, but it is still possible. Such a rhythm requires significant personal leadership and a conscious, deliberate plan. The rhythm of times away from our work enables us to bring far more to our work when we return. Being released from the pressure to produce, impress others or “be on” can be an enormous relief.

UnhurriedLife_smBy the way, my book, An Unhurried Life: Following Jesus’ Rhythms of Work and Rest (IVP, June 2013), is now available for preorder on Amazon. And in case you’d be interested in the original Trueblood quotation, here it is:

“Sometimes Christ separated the Apostles from the strain of human encounter by taking them apart with Him, when their need was sufficient. “And he said to them, ‘Come away by yourselves to a lonely place, and rest a while’” (Mark 6:31). Here is the support for the requirement that busy people, especially those in the serving, healing, and teaching occupations, should engage in. periodic retreats. These withdrawals do not involve failure, or any backward motion, but rather a gathering of resources for renewed encounter. They are really advances rather than retreats. Every busy life should be lived in chapters, including chapters devoted to work and chapters devoted to preparation for work. With the world‑wide increase in population, the experience of absolute solitude is becoming daily more difficult, but for most of us it is still possible, providing it is included in a conscious and deliberate plan. Most people in public life would accomplish far more if each could have one week in the year when he does not see even one other human being. The relief from having to impress, or even to please, is potentially healing.” (Trueblood, Elton. The Lord’s Prayers. New York: Harper & Row, Publishers, 1965, p. 30.)

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A Chosen Desert


I’ve learned a lot from the early Christian desert tradition from whom the monastic movement emerged. Here’s an insight about practicing solitude and silence from a more contemporary desert dweller, Carlo Caretto (1910-1988):

“…if you cannot go into the desert, you must nonetheless ‘make some desert’ in your life. Every now and then leaving [others] and looking for solitude to restore, in prolonged silence and prayer, the stuff of your soul. This is the meaning of ‘desert’ in your spiritual life.

One hour a day, one day a month, eight days a year, for longer if necessary, you must leave everything and everybody and retire, alone with God. If you don’t look for this solitude, if you don’t love it, you won’t achieve real contemplative prayer. If you are able to do so but nevertheless do not withdraw in order to enjoy intimacy with God, the fundamental element of the relationship with the All‑Powerful is lacking: love. And without love no revelation is possible.” (Carretto, Carlo. Letters from the Desert. Trans. Rose Mary Hancock. Maryknoll: Orbis Books, 1972, p. 73-74.)

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Islands of Silence


“The realization of the necessity of such “islands” is not new. Pythagoras required each applicant to his community of scholars to spend a year in complete silence in order to get back to first principles before he would begin to instruct him in mathematics. Francis de Sales would never think of preaching a course of Lenten Sermons without making a personal retreat of several days into directed silence. Sir Thomas More during the years of his heavy obligations as Lord High Chancellor and King’s Counsellor took the Friday of each week for retirement into a little building on his estate in Chelsea, where he devoted himself to prayer and spiritual reading.” (Steere, Douglas V. On Beginning from Within. New York: Harper & Brothers Publishers, 1943, p. 69.)

Times in solitude and silence, like islands in the ocean, are not in conflict with intense work or great responsibility. It is a lifegiving and fruitful rhythm. Men and women of great responsibility have often practiced such a rhythm and required their students to do the same. What keeps us from cultivating such a rhythm  in our busy lives?

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Some Fruits of Solitude


I’ve mentioned in this blog that I lead quite a few days of solitude and silence for Christian leaders every month. It is my most favorite and fruitful ministry. Sometimes these days are for an unrelated group who gather for a single day together. Sometimes it’s a leadership team from a particular Christian ministry. I’ve often said that one of the greatest “fringe benefits” of my ministry is that I have days like these regularly because my work is to provide them for others. When I lead these days, I often write in my journal during the time alone and quiet before God. Below are a few scattered notes from such a day back in January.

On distraction. I’ve discovered I haven’t much power over whether or not I will be distracted in these days alone with God. Noises or interruptions will come from outside of me. Thoughts or feelings will arise from within me. I don’t know how to stop this. What I do have some control over is how I respond or react to these involuntary distractions. I can choose to get wrapped up in solving, wrestling with or otherwise engaging them, or I can decide not to bite the bait and simply let them pass. It’s not as easy as it sounds, but it’s good work when I do it.

On the creative benefits of solitude with God. What have been some of the practical fruits of this regular practice of time alone and quiet before God? What good things have come for me or for others in them?

  • Creativity – drawings, poems, prose, songs.
  • Wisdom, insight and perspective.
  • Peace and rest.
  • A greater and simpler awareness of God with me.
  • A sense of fresh encounter with God
  • A sense of being loved and favored by God.
  • A heart at restful attention with God.
  • When shared with others, a deeper sense of community and unity, even with others who are very different from me.

On the Benedictine vow of stability. This vow is simply a way of saying that there is usually great virtue in staying put, rather than moving on. Do we need to hear this in our dramatically mobile culture? How many marriages have been abandoned that could instead now be much more fruitful through perseverance and willing work? How many have stepped away from one church fellowship just when conflict or challenge could have resulted in new places of rootedness in and reliance on Jesus?

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A Practical Tool for Solitude


I lead a lot of solitude times and days in my ministry these days. Today, I want to share some of the questions I use with a group when we debrief such a time. I think they would be good “journal starters” for personal use as well:

  • Where did you go? What did you do?What happened in your life?
  • What was helpful? What was challenging?
  • Was there a journey that God seemed to take you on?
  • How did you sense God’s presence, hear His word or sense direction from Him?
  • What did God use to speak to you? Scripture? Creation? Your own thoughts or memories? Spiritual readings?
  • What gift do you feel you take away from this day/time?
  • What desires surfaced during your time? What resistances did you encounter? How did you navigate these?
  • If you’ve practiced this discipline before, what was similar in this experience to past ones? What was different?
  • Is there any invitation you sense from the Lord as you go on from this time and place? A next step to take with Him?
  • In what way, if any, are you drawn to develop solitude and silence as a regular rhythm in your life and ministry?
  • Are there ways you can envision doing your work/ministry differently in the coming days/week?
  • How might you take the solitude of today with you into your life and work?
  • If you are a  vocational minister, what was it like to meet with God for yourself and not for help with the work? Were you able to listen to the scriptures, for example, for yourself and not for your next message or teaching time?

Hope these help.

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Simplicity: When Less is More


Since the beginning of September, I have had access to an empty office in a closed counseling center about four miles from my house where I am doing work on writing, upcoming presentations and teaching, and other creative projects.

What I love about this space is the simplicity. My office at home is a wonderful wall-to-wall, floor-to-ceiling library. What a gift! But it can sometimes be a distracting place for me. This writing office is as simple and plain as can be. The walls are blank and white. The furnishings are a small desk and chair, a two-drawer file cabinet (that isn’t even mine), two guest chairs, a single floor lamp, a folding table, and my portable printer from home. Period. I am finding the emptiness to be a place of great creativity. God seems to enjoy filling this formless and empty place with His inspiration.

There is a great gift in moments empty of noise (silence), company (solitude), clutter (simplicity), things to eat and drink (fasting), or the opinions of others (secrecy). Such disciplines of abstinence become the empty spaces in our lives that God can fill as He wishes. It can be hard, though, to hold these places empty for very long.

For further thought:

  • Are there ways in which your life feels too full? What discipline of abstinence hinted at above might help you simplify in this holiday season?
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A Secret of Jesus’ Ministry


Yesterday, I finished my rough draft of chapter 3 of my unhurried time writing project for InterVarsity Press on the theme ‘Love is unhurried.’ Today, I’m starting to review my notes for chapter 4, which will be about Jesus being unhurried enough to pray.

I came across this great paragraph in a book published after Henri Nouwen’s death titled Spiritual Formation (New York: HarperOne, 2010). In it, Nouwen highlights one of the secrets of Jesus’ ministry:

“In the midst of a busy schedule of activities—healing suffering people, casting our devils, responding to impatient disciples, traveling from town to town, and preaching from synagogue to synagogue—we find these quiet words: ‘In the morning, long before dawn, he got up and left the house, and went off to a lonely place and prayed there.’ The more I read this nearly silent sentence locked in between the loud words of action, the more I have the sense that the secret of Jesus’s ministry is hidden in that lonely place where he went to pray, early in the morning, long before dawn.” (p. 20.)

What would happen if more and more Christian leaders followed Jesus in this pattern of his life and ministry? How would their lives change? How would their leadership change? What kind of fruit would we see?

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