deserts, silence, solitude.

"For a soul that realizes the tremendous need of all three, opportunities present themselves in the midst of the congested trappings of all the world's immense cities. But how, really, can one achieve such solitude? By standing still! Stand still, and allow the strange, deadly restlessness of our tragic age to fall away like the worn-out, dusty cloak that it is- a cloak that was once considered beautiful. The restlessness was considered the magic carpet to tomorrow, but now in reality we see it for what it is: a running away from oneself, a turning from that journey inward that all men must undertake to meet God dwelling within the depths of their souls. Stand still, and look deep into the motivations of life. Stand still, and lifting your hearts and hands to God pray that the mighty wind of his holy spirit may clear all the cobwebs of fears, selfishness, greed, narrow-heartedness away from the soul: that his tongue of flame may descend to give courage to begin again"

opened my beloved Celtic Daily Prayer Book to discover just what I needed to hear.