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The Art of Stability: How Staying Present Changes Everything
If God is my refuge, why does life feel so out of control?
Life’s difficulties can overwhelm our sense of God’s presence, but we can take comfort in the fact that he is near and full of compassion. The Art of Stability is not a how-to manual for floating above the pain of life but rather a path for weary hearts to find their way back to Love. By embarking on this journey, we can discover the safety, love, and resilience that has always been available to us through Jesus.
Endorsements“The work of a faithful navigator of the storms of our soul, and one who can help you find your way home.”
Chuck DeGroat, Professor of Pastoral Care and Christian Spirituality at Western Theological Seminary and author of Healing What’s Within
“So well written, a masterful reflection on a crises need of our day, and personally, a well-timed balm for my own heart.”
Scotty Smith, teacher in residence at West End Community Church in Nashville, TN
“A compelling guide for anyone yearning for a more grounded and spiritually enriched life.”
Trisha Taylor & Jim Herrington, cofounders of The Leader’s Journey and coauthors of The Leader’s Journey
About the AuthorRusty McKie is a trained spiritual director, formation coach, and founder of Steadfast Ministries where he helps leaders survive and thrive in ministry. He authored Sabbaticals, leads retreats, and hosts The Art of Stability podcast. Find more of his work at steadfastmin.com.
Life’s difficulties can overwhelm our sense of God’s presence, but we can take comfort in the fact that he is near and full of compassion. The Art of Stability is not a how-to manual for floating above the pain of life but rather a path for weary hearts to find their way back to Love. By embarking on this journey, we can discover the safety, love, and resilience that has always been available to us through Jesus.
Endorsements“The work of a faithful navigator of the storms of our soul, and one who can help you find your way home.”
Chuck DeGroat, Professor of Pastoral Care and Christian Spirituality at Western Theological Seminary and author of Healing What’s Within
“So well written, a masterful reflection on a crises need of our day, and personally, a well-timed balm for my own heart.”
Scotty Smith, teacher in residence at West End Community Church in Nashville, TN
“A compelling guide for anyone yearning for a more grounded and spiritually enriched life.”
Trisha Taylor & Jim Herrington, cofounders of The Leader’s Journey and coauthors of The Leader’s Journey
About the AuthorRusty McKie is a trained spiritual director, formation coach, and founder of Steadfast Ministries where he helps leaders survive and thrive in ministry. He authored Sabbaticals, leads retreats, and hosts The Art of Stability podcast. Find more of his work at steadfastmin.com.
155 pages, Paperback
Published July 16, 2024
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
July 13, 2024
We live in an age when it is possible to be everywhere all at once and nowhere at the same time. We can be 'present' to happenings across the world while being distant from the person sitting on the sofa to our right. Rusty McKie's "The Art of Stability" is a gentle breeze in the wind swirling around the house that reminds us to be still in the presence of God.
In the disorientation of our age, we all long for stability - a place where we can feel safe from the storms and traumas of life. We surround ourselves with comfort in the form of coping mechanisms that do well to help us weather the storm, but slow us down once the winds die off. We've protected ourselves from exposing our fragility, but we've also become guarded from the vulnerability that is necessary for love.
As McKie observes: "many of us distract ourselves with the urgent and unimportant because we don't want to see the actual content of our lives." We must be brave enough to be undistracted. We must wake up to the contemplative way of God's presence in everything.
Our attention is a precious commodity that we must train to focus on what really matters and begin to notice the voice of God in both 'consolations' and 'desolations' - first in the silence and then in the noise. When we wait and listen, we might hear a variety of voices like the voice of shame (I'm not enough), the voice of fear (there isn't enough), the voice of guilt (I can't do enough), the voice of distrust (they're not enough), or the voice of hopelessness (God is not enough), but as the disorienting voices grow louder, there are other voices whispering our way back to reorientation. We are given trustworthy friends who are willing to commit to commitment, confidentiality, consistency, and compassionate curiosity who can be guides back home through the questions that keep us up at night.
Sometimes it feels like you just can't shut your brain off when the brain stem, the limbic system, and the prefrontal neocortex are asking: Am I safe? Am I loved? And, am I capable? But, our true friend Jesus soothes us saying: you are safe in the shelter of God. You are loved more than you can imagine. And, you are equipped for every good work. God is with us, even when we lose our way between 'sleepwalking' and 'hypervigilance.' Staying present to God through curiosity - "Is this what we're doing?" - and surrender - "Okay, this is what we're doing" - offers a flashlight to the weary wanderer in the dark night of the soul.
As the elusive photographer in "The Secret Life of Walter Mitty" tells Ben Stiller's character, "beautiful things don't ask for attention." And, in a world of distraction, what we need is to see Jesus in all of His beauty. When we are present to Him and sit at His feet, there is stability in the stillness that grows roots down deep into the soil of the soul so that when the storm comes we will stay present, and that changes everything.
In the disorientation of our age, we all long for stability - a place where we can feel safe from the storms and traumas of life. We surround ourselves with comfort in the form of coping mechanisms that do well to help us weather the storm, but slow us down once the winds die off. We've protected ourselves from exposing our fragility, but we've also become guarded from the vulnerability that is necessary for love.
As McKie observes: "many of us distract ourselves with the urgent and unimportant because we don't want to see the actual content of our lives." We must be brave enough to be undistracted. We must wake up to the contemplative way of God's presence in everything.
Our attention is a precious commodity that we must train to focus on what really matters and begin to notice the voice of God in both 'consolations' and 'desolations' - first in the silence and then in the noise. When we wait and listen, we might hear a variety of voices like the voice of shame (I'm not enough), the voice of fear (there isn't enough), the voice of guilt (I can't do enough), the voice of distrust (they're not enough), or the voice of hopelessness (God is not enough), but as the disorienting voices grow louder, there are other voices whispering our way back to reorientation. We are given trustworthy friends who are willing to commit to commitment, confidentiality, consistency, and compassionate curiosity who can be guides back home through the questions that keep us up at night.
Sometimes it feels like you just can't shut your brain off when the brain stem, the limbic system, and the prefrontal neocortex are asking: Am I safe? Am I loved? And, am I capable? But, our true friend Jesus soothes us saying: you are safe in the shelter of God. You are loved more than you can imagine. And, you are equipped for every good work. God is with us, even when we lose our way between 'sleepwalking' and 'hypervigilance.' Staying present to God through curiosity - "Is this what we're doing?" - and surrender - "Okay, this is what we're doing" - offers a flashlight to the weary wanderer in the dark night of the soul.
As the elusive photographer in "The Secret Life of Walter Mitty" tells Ben Stiller's character, "beautiful things don't ask for attention." And, in a world of distraction, what we need is to see Jesus in all of His beauty. When we are present to Him and sit at His feet, there is stability in the stillness that grows roots down deep into the soil of the soul so that when the storm comes we will stay present, and that changes everything.
September 1, 2024
I've learned so much from Rusty and this book. It's a vision of deep Christian spirituality with an emphasis on faith that is embodied and experiential.
July 24, 2024
This book has been so helpful for me personally. For so long I’ve been told that certain aspects of my life are not necessarily important to bring to the Lord but Rusty does a phenomenal job in sharing the importance of being an embodied believer through contemplative practices.
The book is clear and the chapters provide tangible opportunities for the reader to participate in their lives. It’s a book that feels like the start of soul care and spiritual formation journey that will lead the reader in a deepening their union with Christ.
I cannot recommend this book enough. Give it a read!
The book is clear and the chapters provide tangible opportunities for the reader to participate in their lives. It’s a book that feels like the start of soul care and spiritual formation journey that will lead the reader in a deepening their union with Christ.
I cannot recommend this book enough. Give it a read!
July 25, 2024
I highly recommend The Art of Stability as a tool for deep spiritual growth. Rusty McKee writes with great wisdom, vulnerability, humility and compassion.
Some key take-aways for me were:
--Getting caught up in attention to my unworthiness of myself or others or in self-righteousness cuts me off from the awareness of God's loving presence.
--The problem isn't God's nearness to me, but that I'm asleep to His presence with me (He's not only omnipotent, omniscient, but OMNI-PRESENT). Rusty discusses befriending silence and teaches about listening prayer in order to grow in sensing the Lord's presence and growing in communication with God.
--Covenant friendships bring order out of the chaos of our unstable world and can help us heal from relational devastations (though of course we only look to Christ to save us).
--Move toward stability by caring for our body (the author includes embodiment practices), connecting with others, and "course correcting" (remembering I'm not defined by failures and that God has made me capable by His strength and guidance).
--"The storm:" chaotic experiences (but "felt safety isn't the absence of danger, but the PRESENCE of Jesus"); "the desert:" stripped of non-essentials, old survival tactics, and dependence on earthly things that lead us to be emptied and prioritize essentials- whole-heartedly loving God (I choose the desolate desert with God over the land of abundance without Him); "the night:" confusion about a felt disconnection with God that serves lead us to even deeper intimacy (I trust that God is WITH ME and FOR ME whether I feel it or not).
--We need both the communion of Mary (BEING with Jesus) AND the commission of Martha (WORKING with Jesus).
--When I enjoy His extraordinary, saving love, life moves from survival to ADVENTURE. It's less about my comfort and more about Who's traveling WITH me!
Also very valuable were the many books that were referenced and are on my list for future reads.
Thank you, Rusty, for the blessing this book has been in my life! God bless you!!
Some key take-aways for me were:
--Getting caught up in attention to my unworthiness of myself or others or in self-righteousness cuts me off from the awareness of God's loving presence.
--The problem isn't God's nearness to me, but that I'm asleep to His presence with me (He's not only omnipotent, omniscient, but OMNI-PRESENT). Rusty discusses befriending silence and teaches about listening prayer in order to grow in sensing the Lord's presence and growing in communication with God.
--Covenant friendships bring order out of the chaos of our unstable world and can help us heal from relational devastations (though of course we only look to Christ to save us).
--Move toward stability by caring for our body (the author includes embodiment practices), connecting with others, and "course correcting" (remembering I'm not defined by failures and that God has made me capable by His strength and guidance).
--"The storm:" chaotic experiences (but "felt safety isn't the absence of danger, but the PRESENCE of Jesus"); "the desert:" stripped of non-essentials, old survival tactics, and dependence on earthly things that lead us to be emptied and prioritize essentials- whole-heartedly loving God (I choose the desolate desert with God over the land of abundance without Him); "the night:" confusion about a felt disconnection with God that serves lead us to even deeper intimacy (I trust that God is WITH ME and FOR ME whether I feel it or not).
--We need both the communion of Mary (BEING with Jesus) AND the commission of Martha (WORKING with Jesus).
--When I enjoy His extraordinary, saving love, life moves from survival to ADVENTURE. It's less about my comfort and more about Who's traveling WITH me!
Also very valuable were the many books that were referenced and are on my list for future reads.
Thank you, Rusty, for the blessing this book has been in my life! God bless you!!
July 25, 2024
How do we stay present when circumstances seem out of control? How do we stay present when we seem to have a storm going on inside of us? The author addresses these questions, but also how to stay present to ourselves, others, and Jesus despite whatever and wherever the storm is raging. And my particularly favorite part is how to stay present to Jesus when He seems more distant than you would like, when the practices that once brought connection no longer seem to be “working,” when all you seem to be left with is longing. This book is deep, reflective and practical. He bridges neuroscience and faith in a way that can be easily digested. I’ve already read it through twice and it may deserve another read!
July 21, 2024
What a great book! Rusty dives deep, and his writing invited and compelled me to go deep with him. He helps us remember that Jesus is always present and doing his redeeming work, through our bodies as well as our souls, even in the wearying and disappointing times of life. And he provides tips from Scripture and science that help us stay tuned to his presence and work. This book is for all of us who long to be stable in our walk with Christ.
July 18, 2024
For the last few weeks, I have been reading a pre-release of His book, The Art of Stability. It is really good. Rusty writes in a way that is deep-crying-out-to-deep, but is accessible for all. This is not just for professional Christians, this book is for humans.
I strongly recommend The Art of Stability as resource that is “a path for weary hearts to find their way back to Love.”
I strongly recommend The Art of Stability as resource that is “a path for weary hearts to find their way back to Love.”
July 11, 2024
This an engaging book that is a lovely blend of Scripture, personal stories, and embodied practices that keep drawing you back to an ever-present Help in a chaotic world! I really appreciated the personal vulnerability and practical advice.
December 30, 2024
Rusty is a wealth of knowledge. He synthesizes his deep well into a manageable stream. Can’t recommend strongly enough that you drink from it here.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews