This chapter gave me a real sense that solitude is truly necessary for us to spiritually grow. I realized that many times, I am in danger of misinterpreting the purpose for solitude. Solitude often sounds more like a vacation. I think of how great it will be to finally get away from messy people and work, to have silence and some “introvert” (yes, I do that) time to myself. While solitude allows for these things, the heart of it is not to get a vacation from my busy life so much as it is to cut out everything but God. It’s not meant to run from the people and the ministry, but to take time to run to God. Solitude doesn’t always mean difficult, but it definitely isn’t always easy. It includes sacrifice
Throughout this chapter, the author uses words or phrases like “desperation, things that needed fixing in my life, longings that were painfully unmet, …show more content…
As you read about solitude and silence in this chapter, did you feel drawn to them or resistant? What do you find appealing about the idea of solitude? What fears or hesitations, if any, do you have about spending time in solitude?
Drawn to them. Up until now, I thought I was relatively good at solitude. I spend a lot of time in my car driving, or going downtown to walk around. That may be a form of solitude, but I’m drawn to experiencing an even deeper level of solitude that I ever have. Despite the fact that I’d love make an attempt at practicing solitude more often, I am also terrified of the idea. Solitude would require being alone long enough for God to reach deep into me and work on the uncomfortable. It would require recognizing faults in places the business allows me to