The Discipline of Solitude

Yesterdays message on the discipline of solitude really seemed to resonate with folks.  I had to laugh, however, as one man walked out after the service feigning not being able to speak.  He handed me a note that said he had started the practice already.  His wife just rolled her eyes. 

When Thomas a Kempis (1380 - 1471) wrote what we now know as "Imitation of Christ," scholars, or even those who could read, were few, but... persons who could empathize were many.  In the troubled world in which he lived, his gentle words and practical ideas resonated and are still considered the quintessential edict on the value and practice of a simple, more silent, more content, and quiet life in seeking after God.  He wrote of the peace that comes to us simply from exchanging our view of self, and identified "four things that bring great peace" (from Imitations chapt. 23, paraphrase mine) as...

1. Seeking to the will of others rather than your own

2. Choosing to have less than more

3. Looking to be last rather than first

4. Praying that the will of God will always be carried out in you 

The really radical thing about all of this is just how radical this really is!  It is alien to the way we actually live.  We claw our way to to the top, stepping on anybody we must or can  to get there - leaving chaos, confusion, and death of souls in our way.  In living as we do we become less human, moving ever further from the 'Imgao Dei' within.  We are shells of God's original intent and children, indeed, of the Garden called Eve. 

Solitude is one way to get us back to God.  Without it, especially in our world, we may not hear Him.  The psalmist writes that He speaks to us from creation, but we, as David did, must pause to listen.  

Have a great week - 

Pastor Sam 

LIFEwalk - the Discipline of Meditation

THE HEAD AND THE HEART

This Sunday my series LIFEwalk will continue with a look at the spiritual discipline of Meditation.  Thomas Merton in Spiritual Direction and Reflection writes, 'meditation is to exercise the mind in serious reflection,' which, 'not only involves the mind, but the whole heart.'  This distinction is critical.  Our faith in Christ is a matter of the heart and the head.  Which comes first?  The heart or head?  I would say both -  at times one and at times the other.  Praise God that my mind is influenced by my heart, and praise Him, likewise, that my heart is at times transformed by His work in my head. 

TIME 'ALONE'

Now the above does not happen by accident.  Acquiring disciplines that can enable this is critical.  In this, focused time 'alone' helps.  As a boy this 'alone time' was precious to me.  Of course, I wasn't really alone.  I would take with me thoughts, dreams, my 'focus' of the day, and any other thing which formed a critical role in my current journey.  The result?  I found help for moving myself among the crowd.  Whether a grade schooler with a baseball mitt, or a teenager with a guitar, these segments of my young life became times that defined me. 

As an adult, this 'time' and its result is still true - but - with one wonderful distinction.  Now I take it with God.  By stepping away with and to reflect on Him - His attributes, wonder, work, creation and Word - I gain a critical 'center' for what I do and how I am among the crowds and places of my life today.  

A CRITICAL CONNECTION

So, mediation is not complex, or just for the 'super spiritual.'  In fact, you likely are accomplishing it in its most basic form now - by reflecting and focusing on something already.  The question is, upon what are you meditating?   This is our critical connection.  The psalmist wrote, "Thy word have I hid in my heart that I might not....sin..."  and each of us could add our individual asterisk - that I might not... fear, fret, be jealous, or, even... be wasteful of my time.  

So remember, help for your journey is found in Him.  Take Him with you, or even, go with Him. 

Till next time then...

Pastor Sam 

  

LIFEwalk begins

This past Sunday began a new pulpit series for our Parkwayhills church family over which I am extremely excited called, LIFEwalk. The series, as the name suggests, deals with the everyday walk of the believer in Christ, and is purposed toward calling us to a heightened awareness and experience in our relationship to God through His Son.  

Since the earliest of biblical record God has called us to walk with Him: 

And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the LORD appeared to Abram, and said to him, I am the ALmighty God; walk before me and be made blameless.' Genesis 17:1-3  

And still, today, the same is true: 

'Therefore, as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, having been firmly rooted and now being built up in Him and established in your faith, just as you were instructed, and overflowing with gratitude.' Col. 2:6-7

Because of this, both God's call and our need, over the next weeks this will be the subject upon which we shall spend our time.  To help, we will look at FOUR lesser known and practiced spiritual disciplines - Study, Meditation, Solitude, and Confession - recognized by Richard Foster and others as 4 of 12 disciplines practiced by the church and encouraged by scripture for development of the grace of Christ in the everyday life of those choosing to follow Him.

And my, how we do need this. Why? Because we are reduced in this culture to a Christianity that is little more than commercial and as powerless as sentiment.  Not dammed but damnable,we are so because Satan has had his way with us for so long that we are no better off than our peers who stand outside the church and are lost. 

So pray for me in this series, and invite your friends and community to attend with you. Together, let's see what God has by reading, thinking, coming away, and being changed through the wonderful disciplines of study, meditation, solitude, and confession...

In Christ, indeed  

Pastor Sam