In today’s fast-paced culture, there is often little uncluttered space for God, few rhythms of rest that honor our human finiteness, and little courage to say no to lesser things in order to say yes to what really matters. The result is a level of exhaustion and spiritual depletion that many of us have come to accept as being normal and few of us know how to combat. In this seminar/retreat, we will explore the difference between being “good tired” and “dangerously tired.” We will also explore the spiritual practices of simplicity, Sabbath and saying no as concrete ways of establishing life rhythms that will help us to maintain spiritual vitality over the long haul.
Dr. Ruth Haley Barton (Doctor of Divinity, Northern Baptist Theological Seminary) is founder of the Transforming Center in Wheaton, Illinois. Trained at the Shalem Institute for Spiritual Formation and the Loyola University Chicago Institute for Pastoral Studies, she is a seasoned spiritual director, teacher and retreat leader. She has served on the pastoral staff of several churches including Willow Creek, is Professor of Spiritual Transformation at Northern Seminary, and the author of spiritual formation books and resources, including Pursuing God’s Will Together: A Discernment Practice for Leadership Groups (June, 2012), Strengthening the Soul of Your Leadership, Sacred Rhythms, and Invitation to Solitude and Silence.