A Little Solitude!

April 9, 2020

I have had enough of this “social distancing” and “sheltering at home.”

I am isolated except for all the digital communication platforms. A month ago, I heard almost no one mention a “Zoom Meeting.” Today, it is a frequent part of our conversations.

People are emailing more, texting more, calling more, FaceTiming more, posting on Instagram more, streaming on Facebook Live more, and utilizing Zoom more just to find a connection with someone or something.

But, even with all the technology, I miss the team of which I am a part at work. I love these folks, I enjoy visiting with them, and find purpose in working alongside them. Oh, we are still “communicating” and “spending time” with one another. But it’s all digital.

I need something more than a digital image of someone; I need something real, something alive, something fully present. I long for an intimate, warm connection with someone who understands me, who cares about me, who can dream with me.

I have had it with all the isolation, the absence of connection, and the unrelenting separation. I need relationship!

The good news is there have been some good things come with all of the social distancing; I am finding myself more attentive to the things of the Spirit! Ironically, the thing I crave most these days…spending time with family and friends and co-workers…can also become a distraction to paying attention to the stirrings of the Spirit.

Later today, many will celebrate the Last Supper that Jesus shared with His disciples in someone’s home in Jerusalem. After supper, Jesus left the city and went to the Garden of Gethsemane on the Mount of Olives.

In Luke 22:39, 41 we hear; “He (Jesus) came out and went, as was his custom, to the Mount of Olives…Then he withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, knelt down, and prayed.” During the week before Jesus is executed, Jesus spends every night, all night going to the Mount of Olives to pray alone. (Luke 21:37)

Luke tells us it was Jesus’ custom to take some time alone for prayer. It is not that Jesus did not love people or enjoy spending time with them. Jesus was not practicing social distancing, sheltering at home, or even isolating Himself. Jesus was practicing an ancient spiritual discipline called solitude.

Solitude is a way in which we withdraw from the expectations and anxieties as well as the fears and sadness of our lives in order to spend time in conversation with the Lord God. Solitude is not isolation as much as it is separateness. Solitude is an intentional separation so I can spend time in the presence of Jesus.

During this season of physical isolation and digital communication, I can choose to transform the isolation into solitude. I can choose to transform the physical separation into spiritual connection.

I invite you to take delight in a deeper spiritual connection with Jesus. As you spend more time with Jesus each day you will discover the Spirit is delivering you into a more abundant life.

Take delight in the Lord!

Doug