The way we evaluate our lives changes. How we are present in the events of our lives, however difficult they may be, becomes more important to us than the events themselves.

In order for our time apart to have the impact we hope for, we must make our time apart primary in our lives. It must go on our schedule first,. We must be true to that commitment, even, or especially when it is difficult and seems impossible.

Spiritual living calls us to engage the people, events, and things in our life in an increasingly consonant way. Our challenge is to find the right balance between engagement and withdrawal.

The tragic consequences of lost authenticity for each of us, for Christianity as an institution, for our culture, and for our world are mind numbing.

Above all, the profession of faith and the ritual of baptism should be milestones on our spiritual journey, not simply hoops we must jump through in order to participate in church.

If we follow that deepest calling we will ultimately be called by that sacred inner voice to integrate our pursuit of acceptance, success, power, wealth, and pleasure into our spiritual life uniquely.

There is absolutely nothing  preventing me from being consistent with my practice. There is absolutely nothing insurmountable preventing me from incarnating what I discover in my time apart into the way I live my day-to-day life. There is absolutely nothing preventing me from approaching my spiritual life with that “unconditional seriousness” and passion McNamara speaks of so powerfully. Nothing external at least. The blocks ...

It is in this interstice—in this  small space between the event and our inner reaction to the event—that true inner freedom resides. It is in this interstice, that the spiritually mature person strives to reside.

Conscious participation in this sacred rhythm of withdrawal and engagement—of discovery and incarnation—is the very essence of the spiritual life.