This morning I actually got up at 6AM and worked on my garden until 7:15 (until I had to shower and get to work). I thought it might be a good time to get this stuff done b/c I'm often busy a few nights per week, but also b/c there's something about early mornings I often miss.
My experience was very quiet and peaceful... part of me wanted to pray, but I just stayed quiet for most of the time.
I've been challenged recently through Henry Nouwen's The Way of the Heart to incorporate more solitude and silence in my spiritual disciplines. I've always felt the need for this, have noticed it in the scriptures, but haven't gone as far as I've liked to with it.
This morning was forced practice - even though I was on my knees in dirt.
A couple of metaphors stuck out at me regarding my life (spiritual and emotional):
1. life needs weeding
- weeds keep popping up, distracting us, choking us, robing us from nurture
- weeds need to be weeded out regularly... a regular practice
2. life needs mulch
- mulch provides protection from the sun and drought for trees and bushes; it also stops weeds from popping up as much
- I think my life needs some intentional mulch to keep me protected from all the voices from culture
- community life would be perfect as a protective mulch
3. life needs water
- no plant lives without water on a regular basis
- I can't count how many times I've felt "dry" spiritually and emotionally, usually b/c I've gone too long (sometimes days or weeks) without nourishment
This was one morning in solitude. Imagine the strength that comes from practicing solitude and silence regularly (even without the garden). No wonder the words of past believers come with such strength. As Nouwen says, a word with power is a word that comes out of silence.
Is there any environments that have been helpful for you in your spiritual disciplines?
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