Invitation to Silence and Solitude by Ruth Haley Barton
“To enter into solitude and silence is to take the spiritual life seriously.”
In my very first seminary class on spiritual formation, I was assigned Sacred Rhythms by Ruth Haley Barton. If you haven’t read it, you should. It singlehandedly destroyed everything I thought I knew about the spiritual disciplines, especially prayer.
A year later, I took it upon myself to read her follow-up book, Invitation to Solitude and Silence. It did not disappoint me.
Invitation to Solitude and Silence delves deeply into what Barton argues is the most foundational of spiritual practices: solitude and silence.
She quotes Henri Nouwen, “Without solitude it is virtually impossible to live a spiritual life… We do not take the spiritual life seriously if we do not set aside some time to be with God and listen to him.”
In a world overrun by chaos and noise, solitude and silence are like cool water to the parched soul, but as difficult to find as a needle in a haystack.
Barton is our spiritual guide through the movements of stilling our body, mind, and soul before God. She guides us through the darkness and emptiness that we find within ourselves when we finally come to rest in the silence. She leads us to the place where we can finally hear that still, small voice that is the voice of God within us.
She acknowledges that this is a hard, courageous journey that precious few will embark on. Lastly, she encourages the reader to participate in solitude and silence for the sake of others, not only for one’s own spiritual journey.
When we take time away from the bustle of work schedules, social media, and family obligations, we return healthier and are better equipped in our roles. It seems counter-intuitive to take hours or days away from our responsibilities to be better at managing them, but there it is.
I highly recommend this book to any serious spiritual seeker who desires more stillness and clarity in their lives. To all who yearn to hear God’s voice more clearly, this book is for you.
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