14 Comments
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Iryna's avatar

Solitude, or "being still" is often a lost or misunderstood concept in today's world. Thanks for sharing your thoughts on the subject. If Jesus went to pray alone with His Father, how much more do we need to sit alone with Him.

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Ryan Huguley's avatar

Of course! Thanks so much for reading!

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K.G. Carey's avatar

Thanks for sharing!

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Ryan Huguley's avatar

Of course!

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Ryan Huguley's avatar

Thanks for sharing! It means a lot!

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Lindsay Sterchi's avatar

Great thoughts on this important practice! Love the Ruth Haley Barton quote as well, and the reminder of not trying to fix things in solitude, but to simply rest in it.

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Ryan Huguley's avatar

Thank you! I love Ruth Haley Barton. She’s helped me so much.

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Lindsay Sterchi's avatar

Same here! She's fantastic!

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Mike Turner's avatar

The Orthodox tradition has a practice (it’s central to their faith) called “Hesychasm” or Stillness. It simply means learning to quieten our hearts in order to be in God’s presence.

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Ryan Huguley's avatar

Love that, Mike. I’m going to read up on it. Any specific book recommendations?

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Mike Turner's avatar

Not a specific one but hesychasm is so fundamental to Orthodoxy that you can google it (maybe check out Father Stephen Freeman's "Glory to God for All Things" site--I'm sure you'll find plenty of discussion on it there).

Here's a piece I did a couple of years ago that sets it in a more familiar context:

https://mturner.substack.com/p/a-place-of-prayer-in-a-busy-world

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Ryan Huguley's avatar

I’m going to read more! Thanks so much and great post!

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Mary Goldring's avatar

Just wondering....are you familiar with John Mark Comer and "Practicing the Way" ministry/materials? Thanks!

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Ryan Huguley's avatar

Yes I am!

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