Echoes From the Campfire

No man or woman passes my cabin in a month.  But I am never lonely.  I love these vast canyon walls towering above me.  And the silence is so sweet.”
              –Zane Grey  (Call of the Canyon)

    “Then they are glad because they are quiet; So He guides them to their desired haven.”
              –Psalm 107:30 (NKJV)
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Very few of us enjoy solitude.  Most folk like to be with the crowd, the noise and excitement; to be alone, shut away from everything might seem nice for maybe an hour.  Take the phone away for an hour and see what happens.  Think of the reason that you go to church; it is not for solitude, but most people say the most important thing about church is fellowship.  Folks just can’t handle solitude, yet it is important that we seek and cherish times of solitude.  Jesus often sought solitude.

         “Now in the morning, having risen a long while before daylight, He went out and departed to a solitary place; and there He prayed.”
                   –Mark 1:35 (NKJV)

I came across the following thoughts on solitude in my reading this week.

         “Solitude is the garden for our hearts, which yearn for love.  It is the place where our aloneness can bear fruit.  It is the home for our restless bodies and anxious minds.  Solitude, whether it is connected with a physical space or not, is essential for our spiritual lives.  It is not an easy place to be, since we are so insecure and fearful that we are easily distracted by whatever promises immediate satisfaction.  Solitude is not immediately satisfying, because in solitude, we meet our demons, our addictions, our feelings of lust and anger, and our immense need for recognition and approval.  But if we do not run away, we will meet there also the One who says, ‘Do not be afraid.  I am with you, and I will guide you through the valley of darkness.’  Let’s keep returning to our solitude.”

With all the turmoil in the world and in our nation, there is a need for solitude.  I am not talking about escaping the world, for Jesus never did that, but he found time to be alone with His heavenly Father.  If Jesus needed that how much more do we need it!