“Silence and Solitude”
There is an old saying: “Tell me how you distribute your time and your money, and I’ll tell you who you are.” Not too far off. Our time and money say a great deal about us and our values. But what I am really thinking about today is the place of silence and solitude in our allocation of time.
Let’s admit it. Most of us don’t really carve out intentional times of silence and solitude. Several years ago, Anne Morrow Lindbergh (Gift from the Sea, pp. 43-44) wrote the following: As far as the search for solitude is concerned, we live in a negative atmosphere as invisible, as all-pervasive, and as enervating [i.e. debilitating] as high humidity in an August afternoon. The world today does not understand, in either man or woman, the need to be alone. How inexplicable it seems. Anything else will be accepted as a better excuse. If one sets aside time for a business appointment, a trip to the hairdresser, a social engagement, or a shopping expedition, that time is accepted as inviolable. But if one says, I cannot come because that is my hour to be alone, one is considered rude, egotistical or strange. What a commentary on our civilization, when being alone is considered suspect; when one has to apologize for it, make excuses, hide the fact that one practices it—like a secret vice! Actually these are among the most important times in one’s life—when one is alone. Certain springs are tapped only when we are alone. The artist knows he must be alone to create; to work out his thoughts; the musician, to compose; the saint, to pray. When we think about silence and solitude words like “Boring!”,“That’s a waste of time”, “There are just too many things to do”, “I don’t have time for that” come flooding to our mind. Yes, for some of us – the introverted—silence and being alone is a bit easier. We seem to be hardwired for such times. But how do we use those times? Often for sleeping, and sleeping can be good and the right thing to do during some of those times of solitude. But I’m interested in the place of silence and solitude in our spiritual life. All of us need silence and solitude. Henri Nouwen has gone so far as to say, "Without solitude it is virtually impossible to live a spiritual life". That’s a strong statement. But Jesus evidently agrees. As we read the Gospels we see that Jesus’ life contained regular times of silence and solitude. David Runcorn (Space for God) comments that: “His times alone were the commas, pauses and full stops in the story of his life. They gave the rest of his life its structure, direction and balance. His words and his works were born out of these hours of silent waiting on God.” I think these times were so important in Jesus’ life and in the life of his followers because without solitude it is nearly impossible to hear the voice of God. There are so many voices clamoring for our attention, even those within our own heart, that without these intentional times apart we can’t really hear what God is saying to us. They are also important because without solitude the other disciplines of the Christian life (prayer, worship, Bible reading, service, and sacrifice) will lose their effectiveness. This is especially true of the discipline of prayer. Silence enables us to be aware of God, to let our minds and hearts reflect on God’s truth and grace, to reflect on what is really important and takes priority in our lives. Silence can be scary and disconcerting because when we are alone with God we may become aware of some things that we don’t like, that we know that God doesn’t like. The tendency is to run – to get back to the familiar noise and busyness of the world. But if we do, we cheat ourselves and we weaken our relationship with God and our everyday life. In silence all we have to do is be still, stay close and let God love us into wholeness. Today is Wednesday, “hump day”, we are on the downside of the week. What are your plans for this weekend? How about some time for silence, solitude and waiting on God? Of course, you don’t have to wait until then. Peace.
