Foster and Merton’s writings on solitude can feel abstract when juggling a seminary schedule of classes, ministry, and personal life. Yet, the commitment to just 15 minutes of daily solitude has revealed its profound necessity. The primary insight I’ve gained is that this time isn't about emptying my mind of my to-do list, but about training my spirit to rest in God’s presence amidst it. Initially, my mind races with the "what-ifs" and the "must-dos." The true insight isn't a profound revelation but the slow, patient realization that this time is a small act of rebellion against the culture of constant productivity. It's an intentional surrender of control.
This daily act has become something I look forward to and it keeps me from feeling like I am drowning in the demands of ministry, school, work, and daily life. It’s the difference between trying to serve God from my own limited strength and allowing my service to flow from a place of being filled by Him. This quiet practice keeps me from viewing my faith as just an intellectual pursuit or a series of tasks. Instead, it reminds me that ministry flows from a place of being with God, not just doing for God.
Cultivating this in a full schedule requires creativity and intentionality. It's not always in a perfect quiet room with a lit candle. Some days, it's 15 minutes sitting in my car before the gym, with my phone off. Other days, it's a silent walk around the lake, a brief prayer before a meeting, or waking up just a little earlier. These aren't perfect monastic moments, but they are a way of telling God that He is my priority, even in the midst of a full and overflowing life.
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