Good morning…
Which of these quiet quotes most attracts your soul’s attention?
“Alone, without distractions, we put ourselves in a place where God can reveal things to us that we might not notice in the normal preoccupations of life,” encourages Adele Calhoun. “Solitude opens up a space where we can bring our empty and compulsive selves to God. And no matter how well we ‘do’ silence, God is there to accept, receive and love us.”
“Solitude well practiced will break the power of busyness, haste, isolation, and loneliness,” Dallas Willard joins our calming conversation. “You will see that the world is not on your shoulders after all. Your will find yourself, and God will find you in new ways. Silence also brings Sabbath to you. It completes solitude, for without it you cannot be alone. Far from being a mere absence, silence allows the reality of God to stand in the midst of your life. God does not ordinarily compete for our attention.”
“We have been seduced by an idolatry that deceives us into thinking that God is mostly found in the big and loud,” concludes Brian Zahnd. “The ways of God are predominantly small and quiet. The ways of God are about as loud as seed falling on the ground or bread rising in an oven.”
My friend, who is a gifted spiritual director, shared these quotes in her email as she invited me to join her in a guided day of silence at the nearby Ignatius House Retreat Center on August 5th. Now, to you, I extend the invitation to exhale. Touch on this link to learn more about the www.AtlantaExhale.com quarterly day of guided silence, and enjoy a sheet of frequently ask questions to guide first timers: FAQ.
Jesus and his followers were in a very busy place. There were so many people that he and his followers did not even have time to eat. He said to them, “Come with me. We will go to a quiet place to be alone. There we will get some rest” (Mark 6:31, ERV).
…Sue…
