Wilderness Sojourn: Notes in the Desert Silence

by David Douglas

Essays written during the author's seven-day trek in the American Southwest describe his feelings on solitude, dependence on God, contemplation, humility, and renewal.

Genres: Spirituality

Paperback

First published January 1, 1987

Reviews

[Melinda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Was given this many years ago by a friend who joined me on a 10 day hike into the wilderness. Am re-reading to charge my batteries!

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This book is wonderful to read. It is the simple journal of a man who takes a 7 day hiking trip alone into the wild. David Douglas encourages time in solitude and "aloneness" (not just being in a room alone, but really being away from people completely) for those of us who have busy fast paced lives and need rest and time to think, pray, and re-prioritize. Many consider the Biblical wilderness a place of judgement or a place of temptation or testing. However, Jesus also went into the wilderness to pray and spend time alone with his Heavenly Father!

So the author encourages us to go to the wilderness to have time to think, time to pray, time away from the "usual" and thus have the chaff blown away, the unimportant identified, and a renewed focus on what is essential and critical.

I recommend it for reading, even if you cannot take a 7 day hiking trip alone into the wild!

[Jim · Rating 5 out of 5]

A short, meditative book, beautifully written but the style is perfectly unobtrusive. If I had a week, month, or year on a desert island and could take only one book, I'd likely take this, even though I've already read it twice. On the other hand, when I'm only wishing I were on a desert island - or, even better, in the desert - I sometimes dip into this book. if you are meditatively inclined and don't mind an understated, barely implied Christianity to your contemplative reading, it makes a good companion.

[Ben Vandersluis · Rating 4 out of 5]

A short, very meditative book about the spiritual experience of being in the wilderness. The author is very relaxed and reflective as he shares his thoughts on our need to periodically retreat to the wilderness to spend time with God — and ourselves. Definitely aligns with a distinctly Christian spirituality but has no agenda or political leaning, and isn’t pushing for your agreement or conversion. Just a relaxing, contemplative read.

[Joanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book so much that I bought a copy to read again and again.