back to stillness

Discipline is the other side of discipleship. 

Discipleship without discipline 

is like waiting to run in the marathon 

without ever practicing. 

Discipline without discipleship 

is like always practicing for the marathon 

but never participating. 

It is important, however, to realize 

that discipline in the spiritual life 

is not the same as discipline in sports. 

Discipline in sports 

is the concentrated effort to master the body 

so that it can obey the mind better. 

Discipline in the spiritual life is the concentrated effort 

to create the space and time 

where God can become our master 

and where we can respond freely to God's guidance.

Thus, discipline is the creation of boundaries 

that keep time and space open for God. 

Solitude requires discipline, 

worship requires discipline, 

caring for others requires discipline. 

They all ask us to set apart a time and a place 

where God's gracious presence 

can be acknowledged and responded to.

Henri Nouwen

it was a week of reunion

family memories, laughter, eating

love shared noisy

but no space for stillness

now home again, I open wide 

my arms, my heart

open wide the gates

that the King of glory

may come as He wills

breathing deep the silence

in the quiet with Sandy