Comments on: The desert or the oasis http://radiate.aplacetoconnect.com/2009/11/02/the-desert-or-the-oasis/ An ongoing discussion about God, worship, music, the arts, and much more Sun, 07 Feb 2010 22:42:47 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Nicole Gerdes http://radiate.aplacetoconnect.com/2009/11/02/the-desert-or-the-oasis/comment-page-1/#comment-3882 Nicole Gerdes Tue, 03 Nov 2009 00:41:09 +0000 http://radiate.aplacetoconnect.com/?p=188#comment-3882 Hey Tristan! Great post! I saw your blog on the news feed via FB, and Rob Bell caught my eye. My husband and I love his books. Have you read Velvet Elvis? I've also been [trying to] read Willis' book about spiritual disciplines. A little tough with 3 kids under 4, ironically. Enjoyed your comments about meditation. BTW, if you aren't already familiar with Ravi Zacharias, I think you'd be really encouraged by him, too. Not related to spiritual discpilines, but from what I remember of you, I think you'd appreciate him. Hope you and your fam are well. Take care, Nicole Gerdes (Anne Miller in high school :-) Hey Tristan! Great post! I saw your blog on the news feed via FB, and Rob Bell caught my eye. My husband and I love his books. Have you read Velvet Elvis? I’ve also been [trying to] read Willis’ book about spiritual disciplines. A little tough with 3 kids under 4, ironically. Enjoyed your comments about meditation.

BTW, if you aren’t already familiar with Ravi Zacharias, I think you’d be really encouraged by him, too. Not related to spiritual discpilines, but from what I remember of you, I think you’d appreciate him.

Hope you and your fam are well.

Take care,

Nicole Gerdes (Anne Miller in high school :-)

]]> By: the brofriend aaron http://radiate.aplacetoconnect.com/2009/11/02/the-desert-or-the-oasis/comment-page-1/#comment-3881 the brofriend aaron Mon, 02 Nov 2009 20:31:28 +0000 http://radiate.aplacetoconnect.com/?p=188#comment-3881 good stuff, Tristan. I especially like the distinction between a "God-ordained valley" and a "self-inflicted desert". Though, in contemplative traditions deserts aren't always such a bad thing, but I get what you're saying. The image that comes to mind is a tree planted beside streams of living water that's so focused on bearing fruit that it neglects to grow roots into the fertile soil all around it. Quick fruit and stunted roots. That's a self-inflicted desert, and in those moments we're forced to stop bearing so much fruit and get intentional about the roots of our spirituality. On the other hand, God may take a healthy tree, bearing much fruit and having well-developed roots, and cause the stream to dry up for a while. That's a God-inflicted desert, and in those moments the question becomes, "Is God-alone enough, for me to continue expressing my devotion and love?" Anyway, thanks for your thoughts. It was encouraging to hear about your own journey into all of this monastic goodness. good stuff, Tristan. I especially like the distinction between a “God-ordained valley” and a “self-inflicted desert”. Though, in contemplative traditions deserts aren’t always such a bad thing, but I get what you’re saying.

The image that comes to mind is a tree planted beside streams of living water that’s so focused on bearing fruit that it neglects to grow roots into the fertile soil all around it. Quick fruit and stunted roots. That’s a self-inflicted desert, and in those moments we’re forced to stop bearing so much fruit and get intentional about the roots of our spirituality.

On the other hand, God may take a healthy tree, bearing much fruit and having well-developed roots, and cause the stream to dry up for a while. That’s a God-inflicted desert, and in those moments the question becomes, “Is God-alone enough, for me to continue expressing my devotion and love?”

Anyway, thanks for your thoughts. It was encouraging to hear about your own journey into all of this monastic goodness.

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