Solitude

NOTE: I wrote these thoughts down a while back.  I’m pretty sure I stole some of these ideas from somewhere, I don’t remember where.  There’s definitely some of my own flavor here, but I can’t take full credit for this post.

Which of these is solitude?

• Being by yourself in a foreign country where no speaks English.
• Driving by yourself in your car with your music turned up.
• Driving by yourself in your car with your music off.
• Chilling in your room with a movie on in the background that you’re not really watching.
• Being the only one at the sleepover that can’t fall asleep.

“Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.” -Mark 1:35

“But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.” -Luke 5:16

What is solitude?

It is not an escape from the daily stresses of life.

It is not taking a break.

It is not peace and quiet.

Solitude is often loud and scary.  The crazy thing is the loudness and scariness comes not from the outside, but from the inside.

Solitude is about confronting the things in yourself that are ugly.  The things that are intimidating.  Hope and dreams.  Wasted days or wasted years.

Can you give those things to God?  Can you rest in His grace?  Find His direction?  Feel His value?

Jesus was able to handle the pressure of the crowds and the pain of rejection because He knew where His value rested and from Whom His direction came.

Some Questions for Reflection while in Solitude:

Are you overly self-conscious about your looks, or your age, or your rep, or what school you go to, or what career you have?

Are you afraid of identifying with social losers, or befriending the homeless, or showing mercy to the mentally challenged?

Do you dislike trying new or challenging things because you’re afraid that failing may just be more proof of your being a nobody, which is everyone’s deepest existential fear?

Why seek solitude?

So you can know where your value comes from.  You aren’t valuable because of what you buy, but because you were bought.

To know if you’re a slave to culture or a slave to God.

How to survive solitude:

Have the courage to be alone and lonely.

Control your breathing.  Remember breath is a gift.

Pray to God.

Remember that you are His child.