What IS Solitude?

Is solitude Loneliness? No. "Loneliness is inner emptiness. Solitude is inner fulfillment."

I LOVE being alone. I'm not lonely. If I don't fear being alone, I possess inward solitude.

"There is freedom to be alone, not in order to be away from people but in order to hear the divine Whisper better." Although, I admit, I DO often want to get away from people! As I read in A. W. Tozer's biography, God is much easier to be with than people sometimes!



Is solitude Silence? Well, yes and no. I can be silent and still be very agitated or angry. (Like giving my husband the silent treatment -- I know, I know....)

But...we do need silence to have solitude. "Without silence there is no solitude. "

"All those who open their mouths, close their eyes! The purpose of silence and solitude is to be able to see and hear." And to see and hear more clearly. To notice the little things. The things in life that don't shout.

Is solitude Listening? I fail to listen if I'm not silent. Listening to what God is trying to reveal to me. If I take no time for silence, expectantly waiting, I won't hear that still, small voice tugging at my heart. The whisper. The sound of the trickling brook.



Is solitude Trust? Yes. Silence is trust. Trust that I don't have to control everything and everybody. "A frantic stream of words flows from us because we are in a constant process of adjusting our public image. We fear so deeply what we think other people see in us that we talk in order to straighten out their understanding....Silence is one of the deepest Disciplines of the Spirit simply because it puts the stopper on all self-justification." I need to let God be my justifier -- I don't need to straighten others out. Nor do they need me to. Trust. If I try to straighten others out, I interfere with God's plan for them. I become a block. A block to their spiritual growth.

Me being silent. To listen to them. Trusting God with them.



Solitude.

What is Solitude to you? I would love to listen.

As a disclaimer, I'd like to quote a big truth I read once, "We teach best what we most need to learn!"


(All Photos by Jimi Ann;
Quotes by Richard Foster)

Solitude

What does solitude mean to you? Most of us desperately need solitude, especially as this holiday season starts rolling, growing as it gains speed. This morning I realize my need to slow down, to actually STOP, to cease striving -- even if for a few moments in the morning. It's in these moments that our greatest ideas come to us. It's when God speaks to us in His still, small voice.

In the darkness of early morning, as I was still lying in bed, luxuriously thinking, dreaming, praying, visualizing my day -- God brought to my mind these random thoughts:

What color shall I paint my bedroom? Robin's egg blue? Fresh, clean.

We should feed the homeless, especially during the holidays.
Should we schedule times to go work in the local soup kitchen? Maybe I'll make homemade pound cake again. For them.


I want to spend all the time after breakfast until lunch physically sitting with the children reading our history, doing mapwork, going over troublesome schoolwork, teaching more phonics to George. Being there -- undistracted -- fully in the moment(s) with them.

Photo by Peter

Hmmm....those dresses of mine and Pauline's really need hemming. I'll do that this afternoon while she reads aloud from her "Personal Help for Girls" book, and we can discuss it and laugh while I sew. She can have a hot cup of the cappuccino that our houseguests recently gave us! Yeah...



Dinner tonight...hmmmm....spaghetti and meatballs. Yes. The boys can make the meatballs as an after-lunch project. They love getting their hands messy! And Peter can be in charge (one of his favorite things to do is be in charge. He doesn't care what he's in charge of; just so he's in charge). Oh good, I have ground beef in the fridge -- now I can delay grocery shopping for yet another day. Yay!

Oh, we forgot to send Aunt Sharyn a thank you card for George's birthday money! Forgot again. OK. I'll incorporate the writing of it into his schoolwork this morning. Or maybe a picture of him holding it? No, we did that last year.


Back to the homeless...yes, what a good service project...we'll pray about that and for them over breakfast.

Breakfast. I think I smell oatmeal. Pauline must be making oatmeal. I just checked. She is. What a warm, hearty meal for this chilly morning...what a peaceful start to the day. Oh, look! The sun's up already! Looks like it'll be a clear day. Now my head's clear and I'm ready for it.




SOLITUDE...when God speaks to us. SOLITUDE...when that Voice gives me guidance for my day. When we stop. When we notice the little things.

Do you practice solitude? What are some of your favorite ways?

I'm thinking of doing a series on Solitude...

(Photos by Jimi Ann)

Be sure to visit Emily to unwrap the treasures at Tuesdays Unwrapped:

Solitude in November

Peter, my firstborn, 14-year-old son

November. A new month. A new season (almost). We embrace the deepening of the autumn season, and anticipate the beginnings of winter. This season is a time of reflecting, of snuggling in a down comforter with hot chocolate. I look forward to waking up while it's still dark, lighting a candle and snuggling on the loveseat in our bedroom to welcome the day. In silence. Ahhh....the gift of solitude.



I read the Psalms or some other inspirational reading, and look out the window and just think. Leisurely thinking -- just having your own thoughts without interruption -- is a luxury when you have children at home all day! I relish this time. When I read at this time, I don't read to get through as much as I can. This is not a time to be productive. I'm productive all day long. This is a time to meditate, to just simply BE. "Be still and know that I am God, " says Psalm 46:10.

Soon I'll start smelling coffee wafting down the hallway from the kitchen. Peter must be up. I hope he puts cinnamon in it this morning. Mmmmm....the aroma just whispers COZY.


He did. He DID put cinnamon in it! I'm thankful on this first November day.

What are some of the simple pleasures that you're thankful for in this season?

(All photos by Jimi Ann)

Visit Melissa at the Inspired Room for more thoughts/ideas on this season: