October 20 – Hiddenness and Desire

Gregg’s Reflection

For much of my early life, my roles came with visibility—leading a business, speaking in churches, consulting with leaders. Recognition was part of the package, and if I am honest, part of me fed on it. But, when I left the business world, I was adrift. I realized how much of my identity was tied up in the business. In many ways, the cabin we built had a job to do, to say I was a person of substance. But when we came to the cabin in Colorado, much of my visibility fell away. At first, I lamented the loss. 

Over time, I began to see that the hiddenness itself was a gift. Without the need to impress or be noticed, I discovered a deeper desire beneath the surface: to simply be with God. Stripped of recognition, I could no longer mistake applause for purpose. Desire was purified. My longing became less about impact and more about intimacy, less about outcomes and more about presence.

Hiddenness continues to be a teacher for me. The world may never know the prayers whispered on a quiet porch at dawn, but I know that God hears them. In hiddenness, longing itself becomes enough—pure, unadorned, and directed wholly toward the One who already desires me.

Scripture

Truly you are a God who hides himself, O God of Israel, the Savior.

Isaiah 45:15

Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him.

Psalm 37:7

For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.

Colossians 3:3

Ancient Quotes

Enter eagerly into the treasure-house that is within you, and so you will see the treasure-house of heaven; for the two are one and the same. The ladder that leads to the Kingdom is hidden within your soul.

Isaac of Nineveh (Isaac the Syrian), Ascetical Homilies

Modern Quotes

One of the reasons that hiddenness is such an important aspect of the spiritual life is that it keeps us focused on God. In hiddenness we find our true selves.

Henri Nouwen, Bread for the Journey, p. 119

Solitude is the furnace of transformation. Without solitude we remain victims of our society and prisoners of our own compulsion.

Henri Nouwen, The Way of the Heart, p. 15

The simplest spiritual discipline is some degree of solitude and silence. To be with our own thoughts and feelings is probably the most courageous act most of us will do.

Richard Rohr, Yes, and… Daily Meditations, p. 32

Journaling Prompts

• How do you tend to seek recognition, and how does it shape your desires?
  
  
• Recall a season of hiddenness in your life. What new desires surfaced when recognition fell away?
  
  
• How does hiddenness create space for God’s presence to become enough?
  
  
• Where might God be inviting you now into a quieter, more hidden path?

Go deeper into this week’s theme:
Read the full Week 42 Reflection: Soul Yearnings/Thirst for God