Invitation to Solitude and Silence

INVITATION TO SOLITUDE AND SILENCE: Experiencing God's Transforming Presence A Book Review By John Dobbs Occasionally one will read a book that so directly addresses the needs of the heart, that it is almost as if someone has been peering into your mind. Ruth Haley Barton has written a book that contains, key ingredients in the Christian's walk with God. I want to say up front that some of these ingredients have been missing in my life. Perhaps that is why her book touched me profoundly. The author of Invitation to Solitude and Silence is Ruth Haley Barton. Mrs. Barton is a writer, spiritual director, and retreat speaker. She is co-founder of The Transforming Center in Warrenville, IL. The book is published by InterVarsity Press in 2004 and has 143 pages (ISBN 0-8308-2386-7). Against the backdrop of the struggle of the prophet Elijah in 1 Kings 19, Barton paints the picture of what it means to have meaningful times of silence in the presence of God. INVITATION TO SOLITUDE AND SILENCE is a guidebook for the uninitiated into the spiritual disciplines of meditation and silent contemplation. The book begins with the motives for seeking out such an experience: desperation for a deeper relationship with God. The author moves on to the reasons why we often resist such a specific time of prayer and silence. In a chapter called Dangerously Tired, Barton describes the lifestyle that many of us live ... believing it to be faithfulness. She writes, "When we are dangerously tired we feel out of control, compelled to constant activity by inner impulses that we may not be aware of.For some reason we can't quite name, we're not able to linger and relax over a cup of coffee. We can't keep from checking voicemail or e-mail 'just one more time' before we leave the office or before we go to bed at night. Or we can't stop cleaning or doing repairs and projects in order to take a walk in the evening or be quietly available to those we love....When we do have discretionary time, we indulge in escapist behaviors - such as compulsive eating, drinking, spending, watching television - because we are too tired to choose activities that are truly life-giving." (p. 59) This is a dangerous kind of tired that steals from our spiritual life, according to Barton. Other chapters deal with rest for the body, mind, and soul. Emptiness, facing ourselves, the presence of God, receiving guidance, and understanding that when we are full of the awareness of God, we are best suited to serve others. A feature of this book one would find most helpful is the PRACTICE sections of each chapter. In this section Barton gives practical instruction on how to put the teaching of the chapter into practice. I found this a great blessing. When we are growing up our parents often told us to "pay attention" but seldom told us how to do it. How often have we told Christians to "pray more" or to "develop a devotional time" but have never given them specific instructions? These sections were a blessing. This is a book I wish to read again. A close friend loaned it to me, knowing that I had recently taken a retreat alone ... in search of solving some spiritual issues in my heart. In many ways, Ruth Haley Barton must experience some of the same kinds of struggles that I experience. That is the only explanation I have for her keen insights into such personal areas of the spiritual life. I will purchase my own copy of this book and read through it slowly, perhaps practicing a chapter a week...or a month. I recommend this book particularly to those in the ministry. Christians are turning to us for spiritual guidance. Are we prepared to share with them some concepts that go beyond "pray more" or "read more Scripture"? Are we practicing these kinds of disciplines ourselves? I find I have much work to do in this area, and I'm thankful for this book and the guidance it offers. Through the expression of personal experiences, Scripture insights, startling honesty, and exceptional quotations, Ruth Haley Barton has blessed Christian readers with a path to greater awareness of God in our lives.