Soul Work: Confessions of a Part-Time Monk

I am so excited that Randy Harris is coming to our Renew Conference on Feb. 7-9. I am currently reading his book titled: Soul Work: Confessions of a Part-Time Monk. Randy actually did what few Christians have the freedom or courage to do: he went and lived for several months at a monastery with the monks. In this book, he shares some of the lessons he learned.  This morning I read Chapter 3: A Monk Without A Monastery. Randy is explaining how each of us, who sincerely want to go deeper in our walk with God, can lead a "contemplative lifestyle", even if we aren't surrounded by a monastery.

I loved his insights so much, I will share a taste of them with you today:

"I believe four things should characterize the person who enters deeply into the contemplative life.  This is never just about you and God. It's about you and who you are in the community of faith and among believers.

1. "First of all, those who enter deeply into contemplation become deeply hospitable. Hospitality is a dying art. Our initial notion is if people really enter into contemplation, if they've become deeply enmeshed in their life alone with God, then that will make them withdraw from the world. But it's usually just the opposite. They become more hospitable than they were before. They begin to exhibit what I think is the primary characteristic of hospitality in the deepest and fullest sense: a non-threatening presence.

2. "A second thing that characterizes those who enter deeply into the contemplative life--and you're going to find this hard to believe--is a missional or evangelistic spirit. (Jesus was) the Son of God and sinners loved to be around him. Now where does that come from? They're not threatened by his presence. They're drawn to it. And apparently his love and concern for them is so palpable that they can feel it. They're drawn to it.

3. "The third thing that happens in time alone with God is that you are able to find spiritual balance above the fray. All of us are deeply conditioned by our circumstances, but we have to be able to find some spiritual equilibrium, some solid ground to stand on.
     "What the church needs desperately is not better leaders. It's not better preachers. What we need are saints. What we need are people who walk with God so deeply that they are the presence of Christ in our midst.

4. "The fourth thing that time alone with God does is to plunge you back into the life of the church. What you discover is that you are not fully complete in your relationship with God until you are at the same time in community with others.
     "God's reconciling work was never intended to be about you and God. It was always about us and God. It was always about a new creation. It was about a new people. It's about breaking barriers down, and any spirituality that throws up barriers (such as complaints about the church's style of worship or prayer or the spiritual maturity of the members) rather than tearing them down is bound to be wrong."

I'm looking forward to what we will hear and do on Renew weekend as we welcome Randy Harris and many other guests into our midst.

--Posted by Mama O.