The document discusses solitude and silence. It notes that silence is a prerequisite for solitude, as one cannot experience solitude without being silent to some degree. The document provides exercises for experiencing silence, such as focusing on breathing or repeating a mantra or chant. It defines solitude as emptying one's soul so that God may fill it. Tips for solitude include leaning into being rather than activity and allowing God to lead the experience.

2. Chapter 4
Solitude
A Necessary Tool
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3. What’s the difference?
SILENCE vs. SOLITUDE
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4. Be Still, and Know That I Am God!
• I can have silence without solitude, but cannot
have solitude with being silent on some level.
• in other words…Silence is a prerequisite
• Those who long for a state of solitude when
they prayer must first be accustomed to
silence.
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5. Be Still, and Know That I Am God!
Thibodeaux states,
“Most people are uncomfortable with silence,
and subconsciously avoid it.”
In Pairs Discuss:
Why do you think this is so? What is the
discomfort with silence? What are people
avoiding? How (un)comfortable are you with
silence? Armchair
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6. Let’s Try This…
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Sit in silence for 5 minutes
How was it? Awkward?
Anxious? Pleasant?
Homework: For the next 24 Hours, track how much
time you experience silence. Don’t manufacture it,
just take notice of it through your day.

7. Some Recommended Exercises
• Becoming Aware of My Body – while breathing
slowly, intentionally going from toe the top of
head, thanking God for each body part.
• Mantra (means “quieting method”) – sacred
word or phrase repeated several times over in
order to quiet self and focus on God.
• Chanting – chanting a quiet, slow, simple
religious song repeatedly, allowing it to “take
over my body” (e.g. Taize)
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8. Solitude: A Definition
Solitude: Emptying the cup that is
my soul so that God may come
and fill it with himself.
[It is not the gift of the state of
being, but it is the ultimate
disposition for receiving that gift.]
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I am not speaking, listening, acting…
only being
…no clear distinction between “I” and God.

9. Some Tips
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• Feel for an opening, then drift into it. I can
lean toward solitude, I cannot force it.
• Every prayer time has its
own unique rhythm.
Embrace the gift of God’s presence in
whatever form he chooses just then.
• Lean into being and away from activity

10. The Mark of Contemplative Prayer
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I am always in
the process of
allowing God, if
it is his will, to
take me to the
depths where
there is only
God and I.