I return to some books frequently. Each favorite book is a filing cabinet full of quotes, stories, memories, and marginal interactions with the author and with myself. Most of the books I return to are old—sometimes very old. But an exception has been a 2006 book titled Into the Silent Land by Martin Laird.[1] I love this book. I’ve got underlines and notes on almost every page. I take it with me when I travel. It’s always nearby. This is not a book my heirs will be able to sell on the Internet as “very good.” This one will be marked “poor” because of all the pencil and ink.
The reader recognizes themes in this book that others have tackled and written on well: contemplative prayer, sitting in stillness, focusing on breathing, use of a prayer word, practicing awareness of the present moment, and so forth. This book is an introduction, but the way the author writes makes Christian contemplation so inviting that it all seems fresh and new.
How is this book forming my soul? In the opening of chapter one, Martin Laird quotes Saint John of the Cross: “Our greatest need is to be silent before this great God … for the only language he hears is the silent language of love.” I found the book to be a wonderful little manual on cultivating this silent language of love—the love of God.
One of the most beneficial elements of the book is how the author helps me deal with inner distractions. He teaches the ancient practice of “vigilance” in which I focus a direct gaze on “afflictive thoughts and feelings” in a way that enables me to know myself better but also helps to liberate me from those thoughts and feelings.
Martin Laird uses great quotes, especially those from the late Welsh poet R.S. Thomas. Try this one: “The silence holds with its gloved hand the wild hawk of the mind.” Listening to the author’s stories and following his recommendations have proven wonderfully helpful in my daily pursuit of the love of God and other people.
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How about you? What books have you found helpful in the spiritual practices?
[1] Martin Laird, Into the Silent Land: A Guide to the Christian Practice of Contemplation (Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press), 2006
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Don Simpson is a certified spiritual director in Colorado Springs and is senior editor at NavPress. He is coauthor with Dallas Willard of Revolution of Character (NavPress, 2005). He also participated in launching Discipleship Journal and The Small Group Letter, and was cofounder of Helmers & Howard, Publishers. |
