If you’ve been going to church for any extended amount of time you’ve probably heard that you should consistently have quiet time. Shut up, pray and read the bible. That apparently is the magic to growing in your relationship with Christ. I get it, I really do - and I think the people saying it mean to be helpful, but I’m going to question this simplistic statement. What’s the point in this quiet time idea? The point is to grow in your relationship with Christ and make it a priority. That is a good thing. Something we should all be doing. But I know there are many times where the formula of a quiet time has actually scared me away from consistently doing it. I’m sure it works great for some people - and sometimes it works for me too. But I think it’s important to look at the goal and come up with your own way to accomplish it. Don’t assume that the only way to do it is through silence, in the middle of the woods, reading your bible and writing in your Moleskine. Growing in your relationship with Christ can look very different than that. A lot of the times that I have the best conversations with God is through music. I’m doing it right now - blasting some good, wholesome music that triggers conversations with God. It’s hardly the silent, woods scene of a quiet time - but it works for me. I think one of my overall, big points that you’ll continue to see in my writing is to question the formulas. The formula may work for some people, it may have worked 10 years ago, but that doesn’t mean it’s the only way. Instead of being stumped by the formula, focus on the goal and figure out how to achieve it. It’s to easy to brush something off because it’s the wrong formula and then not do anything about it. Eeeek - that’s no good - you have to do the rest of the step - which is to figure out your own formula or path. Another great way for me to grow my relationship with Christ is through taking a walk. Now, again - I’m embracing the urban, preppy dude I am - so it probably looks different than some other people’s walks. My walk usually is in a city, a neighborhood, lots of people around, camera in hand taking pictures and usually ends with me sitting in Starbucks sipping on my favorite drink (chai tea latte by the way!). Different? Maybe. But it works for me. That’s the only requirement…figure out what works for you and… DO IT!