Solitude

“In solitude we are so bathed in God’s greatness and goodness that we come to see the immense value of our own soul. The result is that we become increasingly freed from our frantic human strivings.”

“In times of solitude, we become enveloped in God’s very presence.”

There is an intimate connection between solitude and silence. Silence, you see, creates in us an open, empty space where we are enabled to become attentive to God. And oh, how we need such open spaces in our modern techno-world with its relentless barrage of “sound and fury, signifying nothing.” Indeed, many people today have become little more than walking “towers of babble.” Richard Foster

My view this week 

I’m pretty protective of my Holy Week...very intentional about preparing my heart for Easter Sunday. I am blessed with solitude on this Maundy Thursday. The chirping of birds, the rumble of an occasional tractor, the sweet aroma of orange blossoms and the Word. Ironically, I feel far from a Gethsemane experience...freedom not pressing-joy not sorrow. But I remember...it is a day for pondering  the significance of the garden, the “shoot that will come forth out of an [olive] stump,” Messiah, our Anointed One, my sin that crushed Him so violently, He sweated blood. 

His pressing in exchange for my peace.