Solitude

Hello Friends.
MOM and I were watching TV when an add came on for a Kindle or a tablet or something like that.  And in the add were people out in the wilderness enjoying creation and one another's company.  Then, BAM, out comes the electronic thingy.  Are you kidding me?!!  I can not imagine being in such a place and pulling out that thing to make sure I am "connected".  Don't get me wrong.  MOM and I have some beautiful relationships that have been created on the inter-web, especially here in Blogville.  When we were in the wilds of Idaho, sure we thought of lots of our Blogville friends, but not once did we wish our cell phone had reception so we could "connect".  So this got me to thinking.  I'm going to throw in some pictures of this weekend in between my thoughts so you don't get too bored.

It's flood the yard day

The newest “apocalypse” series “Revolution” poses the ultimate disaster of a world, not poisoned by nuclear fallout, not a world taken over by squirrels, but a truly horrifying scenario — a world “gone dark.” In other words, a world without the power grid, a world where we are cut off from all of our electronic connections.

How “alone” would you be in such a place? Do you have commitments and connections that would help support and sustain you without the benefit of electricity? Can you find solidarity in genuine solitude?

I think there might be a fish in there.

Jesus sought out solitude and embraced community in the same breath.  Jesus sought solitude so that he could experience the personal solidarity of the divine-human relationship.

Look I am blowing bubbles

When Jesus himself needed to "re-boot", he went apart — so that he would not come a-part. Jesus did not seek solitude to shut out the world. Jesus did not seek solitude to be solitary. Jesus sought solitude to be in solidarity with God. Jesus sought solitude to up the amps of God’s presence. In his alone-time Jesus never was truly alone, or lonely. It was when he was alone that Jesus stood most fully before God and felt the fullness of divine love.

Here fishy fishy

I think humans mistake solitude for alone-ness.  They think solitude is solitary. The truth is solitude is relationally charged, since it is time alone with God, which is the relationship for which we were created.

Me and my stick

I think the internet connection is craved because so many think that when the power goes off . . . the power goes off.  NOT SO. When we stand before the Creator, the power goes on full force. The power of connection. The power of relationship. The power of love.  When we find the time to stand alone and in prayer before God — we are never alone. We are plugged into the life-sustaining force of the universe. We are interfaced with our Creator, Redeemer, Sustainer.

Happy Bert

It’s these sit-down sessions, these sit-down solitudes with our Lord that enable us to stand up for truth, walk toward each other in need, see and create beautiful, and kneel down in service to the least, last and lost. It’s these sit-down solitudes with God that stirs the souls to sing.

My good friends Baci and Logan

All this made me think of the Redwoods trees.  The Redwoods survive and live to grow to great heights, because they spread their roots out. Redwoods create a network, and “internet” root system, holding each other up, strengthening the soil in which they are standing. They are singular, but they are completely connected. They are alone, monarchs of the forest, but they are kept upright and strong by their relationships.

So friends I hope you spend some time today "re-booting".  Spending time alone is not a negative thing, not a sad thing.  For we are never alone.  And this time set apart is good for our souls, it is good for our health, it is good for our outlook.  And when you are also connected to a great support system and community (such as Blogville) all the better.

Blessings,

Goose