Two different worlds.  Romans 12.2

You are straddling two very different worlds—an inner world, in which you hold your thoughts, ideas, feelings and fears—and an outer world, which is public and observable to others …         >Are you taking time regularly to order your inner world?

Here’s what I mean: I want first of all . . . to be at peace with myself.  I want a singleness of eye, a purity of intention, a central core to my life that will enable me to carry out these obligations and activities as well as I can.  I want, in fact—to borrow from the language of the saints—to live “in grace” as much of the time as possible . . . By grace I mean an inner harmony, essentially spiritual, which can be translated into outward harmony.  I am seeking perhaps what Socrates asked for in the prayer from the Phaedrus when he said, “May the outward and inward man be one.”  I would like to achieve a state of inner spiritual grace from which I could function and give as I was meant to in the eye of God.1

be still, and know that I am God.2

be still … practice solitude.  Does ‘solitude’ speak of peace or isolation?  Depends on you.  Loneliness is marked by a sense of isolation. Solitude, on the other hand, is a state of being alone without being lonely and can lead to self-awareness.3   Far greater, solitude can and should lead us to an awareness of God!  I am sure that solitude is on the endangered species list for we humans.  See, we are of an age in which it seems instinctive to give attention to every cubic inch of life other than our inner worlds—the only place from which we can gain strength to be brave, or even beat, any outer turbulence.4

Be transformed by the renewing of your mind … rather than being squeezed into the world’s mold.  By ordering our inner worlds, by making friends with solitude, we choose to then influence our outer world.  We find ourselves proactive rather than reactive to our circumstances.

A word here from Africa—A nineteenth-century explorer had hired a group of African villagers to provide support for his exploration of a portion of unmapped Africa.  On the first three days of their trek, they achieved an unexpected rate of speed, which put them substantially ahead of schedule.  The scientist was elated.   But all that changed on the fourth day when he arose from his tent and discovered that no one was moving.  In fact he was told that the African support team intended to sit the day out.  When he asked why, he was told that they had decided they’d been moving much too fast and that it was time to stop and let their souls catch up with their bodies.5  Do you need time for your soul to catch up to the pace you keep?

‘I don’t have time for solitude,’ he said.  I raised one eyebrow, but said nothing.  ‘You have no idea of the demands on my time—the pressure is so immense!  For instance, in the evening, if I ignore the beep on my Blackberry rather than tending the e-mails as they come in, I wake up to 97 new e-mails tomorrow morning.  By the time I have tended those, I start my new day two hours behind . . .!’  Oh yes, I see the problem, but unfortunately, this is the “progress” we have made through our advances in technology.  Ha.  Maybe we need to take our lives back from technology.

You will have no solitude unless you understand the importance of it in your life, and make time for it.  I believe that solitude is the most critical of the spiritual disciplines for us to practice.  (Yes, it is a discipline, and yes, it requires practice!)  For it is in a place of solitude, we find God.  be still, and know that I am God.  In solitude, we find intimacy with God. 

You can’t build an intimate relationship with another person if all you do together is rush here and there with the radio blasting, driving and answering your cell phone messages, while drinking your protein shake!  So, why would you expect that you could have a meaningful relationship with God that way?

Think about this: he who orders his inner spiritual world makes a place for God to visit and speak. When he hears God speak, when he feels God’s presence near, the world is set aright.  Think then about cultivating solitude in your life, dear friend.  [Once quiet, should I do something?  Tomorrow …]

For thus the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel, has said, "In repentance and rest you will be saved, in quietness and trust is your strength."6

Three steps toward renewing your mind: 1) immerse yourself in the Word, 2) become part of an authentic Christian community, 3) practice meaningful solitude … ah yes, now we’re getting somewhere!

Christine