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“But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed” - Luke 5:16
One of my college jobs paid me in T-shirts and home cooked meals, but the benefits went far beyond what I could eat or wear. Camp Kingswood was only seven miles away from campus. Seeing that I didn’t have a car, every weekend they arranged to pick me up and drop me off after the weekend. It was the perfect oasis to get away for the weekend, becoming an off-campus home for me. Some times, they even would arrange rides for me when there was no work to be done, just so I could come out, chop some firewood, and have my own personal prayer retreat.
Camp Kingswood became that “lonely place” I could withdraw to for prayer. I spent many nights praying around a campfire, sorting out my calling to remain a United Methodist, allowing God to minister to and heal wounds from the past, and to pray over decisions for the future. These times of solitude helped me connect with my own thoughts and feelings, so that I could better understand who I was and the person God called me to be.
Jesus often withdrew to lonely places we are told. These times of solitude were a regular part of his ministry and helped him prepare and replenish for what was to come. But there is a difference between being alone and feeling lonely. “When we feel lonely,” Dr. Vivek Murthy says,” we’re unhappy and long to escape this emotional pain. Solitude, by contrast, is a state of peaceful aloneness or voluntary isolation. It is an opportunity for self-reflection and a chance to connect with ourselves without distraction or disturbance. It enhances our personal growth, creativity, and emotional well-being, allowing us to reflect, restore, and replenish.”
Making peace with solitude is about entering into that sacred space where we can better connect with ourselves and our creator. When we can become comfortable being with ourselves, we can become more comfortable simply being ourselves with others, thus strengthening and deepening our connections with others. The problem of loneliness isn’t solved with the presence of others, but it can be addressed with a more present self. Join us this week as we continue our series and discover how we can make peace with solitude and be alone but not lonely.
In Christ’s Service,
Pastor Gordon
PS. Don't forget, we have moved to a new time and a new location this Sunday! Join us either in person at 10 am or on facebook live from Firehouse Grille. Register for worship here!
Be sure to join us this Sunday as we continue our mission project of apple gleaning. We have picked 27 bushels so far and would love to more than double it this coming Sunday! Join us at Nelson’s Apple Farm from 12:30-2:30pm.
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