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Entering into the Wilderness of Solitude and Silence
Thoughts taken from John Mark Comer's book, "The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry." “Little moments throughout our day wake us up to the reality of God all around us.” Pg. 121 Today by Mary Oliver   Today I'm flying low and I'm not saying a word. I'm letting all of the voodoos of ambition sleep. The world goes on as it must, the bees in the garden rumbling a little, the fish leaping, the gnats getting eaten. And so forth.   But I'm taking the day off. Quiet as a feather.   I hardly move though really I'm traveling a terrific distance. Stillness. One of the doors into the temple.   Matt 4:1 Then Jesus was led up into the wilderness by the Spirit, to be tested, tried, tempted.1. to test (objectively), i.e. endeavor, scrutinize, entice, discipline ἔρημος: 2048 érēmos – properly, an uncultivated, unpopulated place; a desolate (deserted) area; (figuratively) a barren, solitary place that also provides needed quiet (freedom from disturbance). In Scripture, a "desert" (2048 /érēmos) is ironically also where God richly grants His presence and provision for those seeking Him. The limitless Lord shows Himself strong in the "limiting" (difficult) scenes of life. (érēmos) in the strict sense expresses a lack of population (not merely "sparse vegetation") https://biblehub.com/greek/2048.htm   “From the call of Abraham to the exile of Israel, God repeatedly shapes His people in lonely places. The Greek Old Testament (LXX) uses erēmos to translate the Hebrew midbar, the setting of Sinai revelation, tabernacle worship, prophetic preparation, and chastening wanderings. By retaining this vocabulary, the New Testament presents a seamless continuation: the same God who met Israel in the desert now meets His people in Christ.”   The wilderness is a place of strength: “that’s why, over and over again, you see Jesus come back to the eremos.” P. 125   “The friend of silence draws near unto God.” John Climacus Pg. 132. Lewis quote.   Come away          He said to them, “Come away          to a deserted place all by yourselves          and rest a while.”                          —Mark 6.31 Come away. The world will turn without you. Let go of the “have to,” the should, the ought. Notice what you set down: the weight of expectations, the feeling of proving yourself to yourself. Notice how you feel, unburdened: At peace? Anxious? Free? Afraid? Waiting for the gavel to drop? Notice… What if it’s OK? It’s OK. Practice this sabbath exercise, this holy desertion so you may take it with you into the crowd. • You honor what is in your hands only if you hold it lightly. • Come away to the place of solitude where you already are, waiting for you. _________________      Steve Garnaas-Holmes  Unfolding Light  www.unfoldinglight.net    July 14, 2021  Published July 14, 2021 https://unfoldinglight.net/2021/07/page/2/  
REFLECTING LIGHT
http://www.reflectinglight.org
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