Solitude and the Soul
I just finished A Hidden Wholeness by Parker Palmer (founder of the Fetzer Institute, Quaker and Educator) It is a powerful piece of literature which dives to the soul's depths.
Parker speaks my language -- a language of the heart.
"Solitude," he says, "does not necessarily mean living apart from others. Rather, it means never living apart from one's self. It is not about the absence of other people -- it is about being fully present to ourselves, whether or not we are with others."
Palmer also observes, "The soul is shy. Just like a wild animal, it seeks safety in the dense underbrush, especially when other people are around. If we want to see a wild animal, we know that the last thing we should do is go crashing through the woods yelling for it to come out."
Parker speaks my language -- a language of the heart.
"Solitude," he says, "does not necessarily mean living apart from others. Rather, it means never living apart from one's self. It is not about the absence of other people -- it is about being fully present to ourselves, whether or not we are with others."
Palmer also observes, "The soul is shy. Just like a wild animal, it seeks safety in the dense underbrush, especially when other people are around. If we want to see a wild animal, we know that the last thing we should do is go crashing through the woods yelling for it to come out."
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