The world doesn't need more busy people, maybe not even more intelligent people.
It needs deep people,
people who know that they need solitude if they are going to find out who they are;
silence, if there words are to mean anything;
reflection, if their actions are to have any significance;
contemplation, if they are to see the world as it really is;
prayer, if they are going to be conscious of God;
if they are to know God and enjoy God forever.
-Richard Foster, Celebration of Discipline
We live in a society where people pride themselves on being busy and on being intelligent. But, this quote makes me think because it goes exactly opposite of what our society tells us is important. Our world tells us we should be busy and we should intelligent. According to Foster, as followers of Christ, we should be deep people - people who seek time for solitude, silence, reflection, contemplation, and prayer. None of these things come baturally to us when we are caught up in just making it through life.
I know for me, it is easy to get caught up in the busy-ness of life and in learning more so that I can at least sound more intelligent in conversations. I don't always seek times of solitude and silence for reflection, contemplation, and prayer. In many ways, I've bought into society's view of what we need to pursue in life - and that means being busy and knowing lots.
But, somehow those things never actually satisfy - at least not for the long term. Being busy just means I fall into bed tired every night and hope I get enough sleep to make it through the next busy day. Learning more so that I can sound more intelligent in conversations just means I've filled my head with knowledge - especially if it never has any impact on how I live my life. When these things don't satisfy, it makes me wonder: Is there something more? And I think Foster addresses in how words:
The world doesn't need more busy people, maybe not even more intelligent people.
It needs deep people,
people who know that they need solitude if they are going to find out who they are;
silence, if there words are to mean anything;
reflection, if their actions are to have any significance;
contemplation, if they are to see the world as it really is;
prayer, if they are going to be conscious of God;
if they are to know God and enjoy God forever.
-Richard Foster, Celebration of Discipline
When we seek times of solitude and silence so we can reflect, contemplate, and pray, we learn how to enjoy God. And enjoying God is ultimately what will satisfy us forever. The only lasting satisfaction we can find is in God alone - in seeking Him to build relationship with Him. We cannot find satisfaction in the things of this world. True and lasting satisfaction comes only from God.
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