Jesus invites us to join him in a solitary place. Beyond finding a place of rest, it's also a place where transformation happens. The practices of silence and solitude transport us to the far reaches of desert spirituality. Early Christians journeyed into the solitude of the wilderness to seek Christ likeness.

"The start of stillness is the rejection of all noisiness as something that will trouble the depths of the soul," writes John of the Ladder, who I consider to be the father of all Christian spiritual directors. He lived intimately with the silence of the Sinai Desert. The deepest silence anywhere can be found in the desert.

Set a time and a place where you can be alone in quiet stillness. Listen only to the murmur of your soul. Remember to take notes because these are experiences you will want to remember!