The Discipline of Solitude / An Undivided Life, by
Chris Lanier, Soli Deo Gloria
At home.earthlink.net/~chris.lanier/sitebuildercontent/ sitebuilderfiles/SpiritualDisciplines_solitude.doc
Comments on Chapter 7 of "Celebration of Discipline" by Richard Foster,
General Comments
"Jesus calls us from loneliness to solitude. The fear of being left alone petrifies people. A new child in the neighborhood sobs to her mother, 'no one ever plays with me.' A college freshman years for his high school days when he was the center of attention: 'Now, I'm a nobody.' A business executive sits dejected in her office, powerful, yet alone. An old woman lies in a nursing home waiting to go 'Home'. Our fear of being alone drives us to noise and crowds. We keep up a constant stream of words even if they are inane. We buy radios that strap to our wrists or fit over our ears so that, if no one else is around, at least we are not condemned to silence. T.S. Eliot analyzes our culture well when he writes, 'Where shall the world be found, where will the word resound? Not here, there is not enough silence.' But loneliness or clatter are not our only alternatives. We can cultivate an inner solitude and silence that sets us free from loneliness and fear. Loneliness is inner emptiness. Solitude is inner fulfillment." - Richard J. Foster, "Celebration of Discipline"
The Scriptural Precedence for the Discipline of Simplicity
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"Jesus lived in inward 'heart solitude'. He also frequently experienced outward solitude. He inaugurated his ministry by spending forty days alone in the desert (Matt. 4:1-11). Before he chose the twelve he spent the entire night alone in the desert hills (Luke 6:12). When he received the news of John the Baptist's death, he 'withdrew from there in a boat to a lonely place apart.' (Matt. 14:13). After the miraculous feeding of the five thousand Jesus 'went up into the hills by himself...' (Matt 14:23). Following a long night of work, 'in the morning, a great while before day, he rose and went out to a lonely place...' (Mark 1:35). When the twelve returned from a preaching and healing mission, Jesus instructed them, 'Come away by yourselves to a lonely place' (Mark 6:31). Following the healing of a leper Jesus 'withdrew to the wilderness and prayed' (Luke 5:16). With three disciples he sought out the silence of a lonely mountain as the stage for the transfiguration (Matt. 17:1-9). As he prepared for his highest and most holy work, Jesus sought the solitude of the garden of Gethsemane (Matt 26:36-46). I could go on, but perhaps this is sufficient to show that the seeking out of solitary places was a regular practice for Jesus. So it should be for us." - Richard J. Foster, Celebration of Discipline
How the Discipline of Simplicity prepares us for the Transforming work of the Spirit
- "Inward solitude has outward manifestations. There is the freedom to be alone, not in order to be away from people but in order to hear the divine Whisper better." - Richard J. Foster, Celebration of Discipline
- "Let him who cannot be alone beware of community... Let him who is not in community beware of being alone... Each by itself has profound pitfalls and perils. One who wants fellowship without solitude plunges into the void of words and feelings, and one who seeks solitude without fellowship perishes in the abyss of vanity, self-infatuation, and despair." Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Life Together. Therefore, we must seek out the recreating stillness of solitude if we want to be with others meaningfully. We must seek the fellowship and accountability of others if we want to be alone safely. We must cultivate both if we are to live in obedience." - Richard J. Foster, Celebration of Discipline
- "We must understand the connection between inner solitude and inner silence; they are inseparable. All the masters of the interior life speak of the two in the same breath." - Richard J. Foster, Celebration of Discipline
- "There is an old proverb to the effect that 'all those who open their mouths, close their eyes!' The purpose of silence and solitude is to be able to see and hear. Control rather than no noise is the key to silence. James saw clearly that the person who could control his tounge is perfect (James 3:1-12). Under the Discipline of silence and solitude we learn when to speak and when to refrain from speaking." - Richard J. Foster, Celebration of Discipline
- "If we are silent when we should speak, we are not living the Discipline of silence. If we speak when we should be silent, we again miss the mark." - Richard J. Foster, Celebration of Discipline
- "One reason we can hardly bear to remain silent is that it makes us feel so helpless. We are so accustomed to relying upon words to manage and control others. If we are silent, who will take control? God will take control, but we will never let him take control until we trust him. Silence is intimately related to trust." - Richard J. Foster, Celebration of Discipline
- "One of the fruits of silence is the freedom to let God be our justifier. We don't need to straighten others out. There is a story of a medieval monk who was being unjustly accused of certain offenses. One day he looked out his window and saw a dog biting and tearing on a rug that had been hung out to dry. As he watched, the Lord spoke to him saying, 'That is what is happening to your reputation. But if you will trust me, I will care for you - reputation and all.' Perhaps more than anything else, silence brings us to believe that God can care for us - 'reputation and all.' - Richard J. Foster, Celebration of Discipline
- "The fruit of solitude is increased sensitivity and compassion for others. There comes a new freedom to be with people. There is new attentiveness to their needs, new responsiveness to their hurts. Thomas Merton observes, 'It is in deep solitude that I find the gentleness with which I can truly love my brothers. The more solitary I am the more affection I have for them.... Solitude and silence teach me to love my brothers for what they are, not for what they say." - Richard J. Foster, Celebration of Discipline
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