I recently reconnected with a Spiritual Director who helped me during a challenging season of ministry. The last few years, as I finished my PhD and worked as a pastor/chaplain, I worked too hard without enough rest. Now, I'm slowing down and starting to learn healthier work/rest rhythms. As I described this to my former Spiritual Director, she pointed me to some authors. One such writer was Martin Laird and his book, Into the Silent Land. Unfortunately, it wasn't part of my library. However, that evening I went down to my daughter's room to say goodnight and I noticed a book on her bedside table: Into the Silent Land. Coincidence? More like God's provision. It's one of the textbooks for my daughter's mindfulness course and I'm grateful she let me borrow it.
Laird's text is just what I needed. I've been slowing down and implementing his practical tips for contemplative prayer. It has also provided grounds for stimulating conversations with my daughter.
If you need to slow down and rest, I recommend Laird's book. His practical tips are simple and helpful: find 20-30 mins per day; sit in a quiet place; choose a short key word or phrase (such as, "Lord Jesus, have mercy"); link the word(s) to your breath and breathe slowly and deeply. You'll find distractions surfacing but just keep coming back to your breath and keyword(s). There is so much more to discover but this is a good start.
