The Practice of Solitude
Many people hear the word ‘solitude’ and confuse it with the word ‘loneliness.’ Jesus never calls us toward loneliness, but rather by his teaching and example he calls us to times of solitude so that we might encounter God’s presence and be prepared to develop deeper community with our brothers and sisters.
It might seem like people in Jesus’ day had an easier time finding times of silence and solitude than we do today. We’re certainly more crowded by neighbors and technology than people were long ago. But that makes it all the more important we learn to develop a discipline of periods of silence and solitude. We must respond creatively to the challenge of the noise and busyness of life so we can develop a habit of time alone in silence before the Lord.
Below you can find some invitations into silence and solitude that you might try incorporating into your routine of life this month. In those moments of quiet, may you find the company of the Spirit and hear the voice of God speaking to you.
Week One
Identify a place in your home where you can sit alone in silence for 5-10 minutes each day. You may need to wake up before the rest of the household or stay awake until they’ve gone to sleep. Begin that time of solitude with the same simple invitation that Samuel offered to God: “Speak, Lord, your servant is listening.” Then allow your mind to settle and just listen.
week two
Resist the temptation when driving alone to turn on music or talk radio and let those moments be a time to draw your attention to the world around you and how God is present. With a small reorientating of your perspective, sitting in traffic can move from a headache to a time of holy solitude.
week Three
Carve out a thirty-minute time to have walking solitude this week. If the weather is nice, find a trail, park, or quiet part of your neighborhood. If it’s too cold or rainy, you might try walking around the local mall. Challenge yourself not to let distractions pull you out of your intentional silence and solitude.
Week Four
There are several places in metro-Atlanta that offer silent retreats. Look at your calendar and try to plan a day or perhaps even a weekend for silence and solitude. Aim to make this a yearly practice.