Do you remember when solitude was once enjoyed and appreciated? Not so very long ago, everyone knew a little solitude. We didn’t have to schedule it, or write it into our planner to block off time to enjoy some.
It was simply there … naturally woven into the spaces of time throughout the day. In fact sometimes we would intentionally seek out human connection to escape long stretches of solitude! Imagine that! It was there in abundance and while for some there was too much of it, for most of us it was a blessing.
So what is solitude? It’s spending time by oneself, apart from other people. It’s taking intentional time alone – away from the madding crowds of people, the demands of work and family, the cell phone interruptions, the emails and texts, the social networks, computers and TV’s. It’s less about doing and more about being.
As a race we humans have scheduled out solitude and replaced it with a plethora of activities that permits no room for anything but work and continuous go-go-go. Cell phones are permanently plugged in our ears, or eyes cast down at the device, and we never log off them or our computers and iPads. People are always around us and we get next to zero time alone.
We fill in the spaces of time where solitude once lived and we’ve replaced them with work, play and people … endless activities and distracions!
We used to get a little alone-time in the car … not anymore … the incessant beeps of emails, texts and FB posts take care of that; or we fill in that opportunity for a little thoughtful silence with annoying talk radio….or some other noise …. and the never-ending static energy that transforms us into “energizer bunnies” – when all the time our thirsty soul cries out for some peace and quiet!
In today’s world solitude, silence and serenity are almost non-existent because we have chosen to push them to the back-burner of life. We do it to ourselves! Nowadays most people don’t know what solitude is or where it went, and maybe they don’t care, but I do!
Solitude is valuable for so many reasons – including our sanity!
It’s in our solitude, lost in the quiet moments of the day, where we find ourselves. In our alonenness we’re better able to think, to dream, to plan and to recuperate from the busyness of life and all its earthly demands. It’s where we gain perspective on life and relationships and where we determine direction.
In solitude we are more spiritual, we develop appreciation for all we have. We become more aware of our surroundings. We can dwell on gratitude. It’s where we learn to be comfortable in our own being, to seek courage and encouragement. In solitude, we gain strength of resolve, inspiration meets us there regularly … and we find our sense of purpose.
It’s also where we connect with God in all his magnificence … alone on a mountain top … adrift on a great expanse of water or lost in the beauty of the woods. More importantly, in the quietness of our solitude we hear Him whisper to us. That still small voice of God. We hear His message, His assurance and we learn His plan for us. Most of all we feel His love.
And we discover while we are most alone, we are not alone at all.
The place of solitude is a special place for each of us to rediscover, protect and visit often. I encourage you to find those spaces of time in your life. Shut out the endless static that deafens and dulls your senses, or stimulates you into oblivion. Instead, take time and space for some solitude and while you’re there together, may you be the best of friends.
“In solitude the mind gains strength and learns to lean upon itself.” Laurence Sterne (1713-1768) British writer.
“Conversation enriches the understanding; but solitude is the school of genius.” Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882) U.S. poet, essayist and lecturer.