Today we examine solitude.
Solitude is a very critical element of this process.
The difference between loneliness and solitude is that loneliness is an anxious feeling of longing for a personal connection and solitude is a deliberate choice to spend time alone in search of an experience of God. Loneliness is something we flee away from and solitude is something we can run towards.
One of key components to solitude is silence.
It is during silence that we often hear from God. An increasingly noisy world filled with televisions, car radios, smart phones, computers, along with the constant distraction of staying connected, is contributing to our separation from God.
If you are in search of solitude, try the following:
Set aside a special place where you can withdraw from others
try an entire day without speaking
Go on a mini retreat with just yourself to re-prioritize
Stop by a church during the week and sit alone with God
Take a walk in the woods by yourself
Enter into daily chores with an expectant heart
Use your time of being solitary as a time of refinement!