I read Todd Hunter's blog regarding spiritual disciplines today. Doing this prompted me to look at some Willard and Foster. In what I read, both mentioned how important solitude and silence are for real progress in the spiritual life. I have read and heard about these two practices, but, having been formed by campus ministry spirituality that emphasizes daily quiet times and scripture memory, (both good things) I have never really practiced solitude and silence in a serious manner.

I decided that I cannot wait for an opportunity to go on retreat and must enter into these practices as best I can, so this morning I spent some time in centering prayer. A couple things surfaced from only 10 minutes of silence and solitude. (Hey, I am a novice. Ten minutes was a long time!!) First, even for those few moments I felt a sense of restoration. It was like de-fragging a computer. Daily living fragments our soul. Silence and solitude is a key way God de-frags us. Second, I immediately sensed the restlessness in my own soul. As this happened I was reminded again (probably the umpteenth million time), that all the areas of sin struggle - you name it, lust, overeating, busyness, pride - are often attempts to calm or cover up the restless waters of my soul.

Just ten minutes allowed me to taste how silence and solitude calm the waters. I can see why silence and solitude are crucial for weening us from other strategies/practices/attitudes we embrace to calm/cover our restlessness. Other disciplines, like bible reading, saying prayers, worship, I don't think have the same effect. They accomplish other crucial ends. I can see how one can embrace other disciplines and find little progress in certain areas of the spiritual life. I can see why the masters emphasize it - heck, Merton wrote a whole book about it!!

Well, I know one ten minute experience is just a miniscule starting point. I also am guessing that God graced me to help me "know" why this is important. Much deeper times await, and I imagine there will be many times when there is no perceptable experience. But wow - what a powerful discipline.

Pax