"Be still, and know that I am God"  Psalm 46:10a

I've been away a little while working on some doctoral work at Gordon-Conwell Seminary (www.gcts.edu).  While there studying in my last residency, we were addressing the issue of the spiritual formation of the leader/pastor.  As a result, we spent a three day retreat at a satellite monastary/Retreat house where some brothers from the Society of Saint John the Evangelist live in community.  I think that their faith background is Episcopalian/Anglican (or some hybrid thereof), and though there are certain theological differences that we would clearly have, I learned some things while there.

First, I learned the value of silence.  They didn't talk to us, and we didn't talk to them (except the first day at a meal, and the very last meal on the third day).  We also didn't talk to each other (those in our class who were a part of this retreat), with the exception of some times of processing together with our professor once or twice a day.  So, literally, it was quiet all the time.  We didn't talk, have a cell phone, no computers, no televisions, etc.  QUIET.  It was cool because silence has a way of scaring you, and making you appreciative at the same time.  It scares you because when you really get alone and quiet for a long time, you realize how much noise is going on in your soul that impedes your ability to hear God.  And it makes you appreciative of the mysterious work of God in other people's lives as you observe people really trying to listen to His voice.

Second, I learned about the power of lingering with God and His Word.  In our western culture, we try to get as much information as we can, as fast as we can.  I have made an observation that is relevant here I think:  We live in a time where there is more information available to us than any time in all of history combined, yet we seem to be getting more unwise.  Information does not translate to wisdom by necessity.  So, in my time at the Monk house, I spent time in basically one passage of Scripture for three days.  You heard me right.........same Scripture, three days.  I learned to linger (and, as a result, I really began to hear God with a higher clarity).

Third, I realized that you can't hear God until you de-clutter.  That took me an entire day to do.  The bottom line was that my mind was focused on unfinished tasks (like dissertation proposals that were due), the pace of my thoughts were Mach-2, and I wasn't sure I wanted to release control to have God say all He wanted to say to me.  So, I had to decompress and declutter to get the spiritual ear wax out of my spiritual ears to hear God.  I had to let go of every hindrance impeding my ability to hear from God.

Fourth, I realized the interdependent relationship of community and solitude.  Dietrich Bonhoeffer said that you can't really experience community without solitude, and that you can't experience real solitude without community.  I started to understand that.  When someone has been alone with God, they bring to community an authenticity and wisdom.  They don't just talk with wasted words of no substance or consequence....they have something to say and bring to the community.  Also, when we go out of community into solitude, we carry with us a real sense of belonging to God and others that helps us as we talk with God.  We are with God as one of many. 

I will let you meditate on these thoughts for a while, and see if God may want to say something to you.........if you get alone with Him long enough to listen.

"His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness......For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith..."  2 Peter 1:3,5

It doesn't sound right to tell someone that they have everything they need and then turn around and tell them they need something.  That seems to be what Peter is saying in the verse above................you have everything you need for life and godliness, so, for this reason, add to your faith.....

So, what is it, do I have everything or not?

Well, yes, you have everything............sort of.  I mean, you have everything, but not all of everything.  Make sense?  Didn't think so.

Let's try this another way maybe.  In fact, I think I will use the words of Mark Buchanan to possibly help bring some clarity to this:

"Isn't this like saying, "You've got all the money you need.  Therefore, try as hard as you can to get rich"?  Or is it?  Maybe this is closer to common sense than first meets the eye.  Something like this:  You have all the money you need for the life you want - only, invest it wisely and spend it with care.  Don't squander it.  Don't hoard it.  Be generous.  Be frugal.  Be shrewd.  Be honest."

In other words, having all that is needed is not the same thing as accessing it and making all you can out of it.  The key in this phrase seems to be the word "for."  God has given us what we need "for" a life that more images what He has in mind for us.

Again, Buchanan: "Imagine that you were given everything you needed for a house.  The land.  The equipment to clear the land.  The plans and permits, tools and materials.  It's all there, down to the last galvanized screw and length of crown molding and strip of chimney flashing.  The full inventory of supplies is at hand.  Everything you need for a house is intact.  All that's missing is you."

There it is.  You have it all for the life you want in God.  Everything.  Nothing is missing.  But God expects you and I to show up and build the house from the materials that He has given us.  So, though you are "adding" to your life in Christ all the things Peter mentions in this passage (read it for yourself), you are actually adding what you already have.  The generous Builder of lives has supplied you with what you need.  Now you need to learn some skills in the carpentry shop of life to build what God desires. 

Good thing that Jesus knows a thing or two about carpentry, huh?