Here are two quotes from Henri Nouwen that are taken from The Sacred Way by Tony Jones. The first is a quote about spiritual disciplines and the second deals specifically with the discipline of silence and solitude.
“In the spiritual like, the word ‘discipline’ means ‘the effort to create some space in which God can act.’ Discipline means to prevent everything in your life from being filled up. Discipline means that somewhere you’re not occupied, and certainly not preoccupied. In the spiritual life, discipline means to create that space in which something can happen that you hadn’t planned or counted on.”
“As ministers our greatest temptation is toward too many words. They weaken our faith and make us lukewarm. But silence is a sacred discipline, a guard of the Holy Spirit.”
- Henri Nouwen
Thanks, Brad. A needed reminder for me.
A great quote.
We know the benefits of discipline by experience. We see the ravages of their lack in others and in ourselves. We enjoy, at times, intimate moments of serence dependence on God in the disciplines, yet we struggle to maintain them.
Why are these disciplines so hard to maintain for so many?