I finally [start to] get Dallas Willard

It seems that everyone I respect in the world of Spiritual Formation thinks very highly of the writings of Dallas Willard. I confess I have tried on several occasions in the past to read Willard, but it hasn’t clicked. Perhaps it is his more formal style of writing (which I remember slowing me down in my first introduction to C. S. Lewis and G. K. Chesterton), or maybe it was the fact that the very officious (and somewhat bland) Times font was used in the editions I read. Pretty lame excuses, I know...

Having just returned from the Willow Creek Arts Conference where I attended a session by Mindy Caliguire (another of my mentors in formation), I decided to give old Dallas another try, and picked up Spirit of the Disciplines. Wow—something clicked. I literally FELL in to the writing. He spoke to places in my life that were needful, and offered depth of truth that sunk down deep in my soul and took root. In one fell swoop I started to “get” Willard, and see why everyone else seemed to get him much earlier than I did. (Sorry Dallas, I’m slow.)

The greatest books in my life on the topic of formation have been (and in the order I would suggest others read them when embarking upon the journey of life change and soul care): The Life You’ve Always Wanted by John Ortberg and Shaped by the Word by Robert Mulholland. To this list I must add Willard’s Spirit of the Disciplines. It really is amazing, especially since it doesn’t just talk about the disciplines themselves, but treats their history, biblical roots, and meaning in our lives in great depth.

I’m most of the way through the book, highlighting madly; when I finish I’ll collect my notes and start through again. I can see spending a lot of time with this book over the next few months.