solitude

photo of me by the lovely amanda estrada

"solitude begins with a time and place for God, and him alone.

If we really believe not only that God exists,

but that he is actively present in our live

-healing, teaching and guiding-

we need to set aside time and space

to give him our undivided attention"

-henri nouwen

 but where can I find this solitude I sometimes wonder?

i think of oxford, one of the most idyllic places i have travelled. 

i picture myself sitting on rolling green hills, the horizon dotted with streams and cottages. 

sheep baaing in the distance. 

but then i hear the garbage truck outside my window and my house literally shakes because my neighbor is a little too into his mariachi music, 

and i realize I won't always be in a thomas kinkade painting. 

in fact, most of the time we'll be in something closer resembling a circus.  

"go into your room" Jesus says "close your door and pray to your Father, who is unseen"

There is a meeting place-

a time and a place where we can meet with God and hear His thoughts and He can hear ours, 

a time for the two of us where He can have our full attention and we can have His.

Solitude is where we are least alone and where our deepest loneliness can be relieved. 

It's a healing place where God can repair the damage done by the noise and pressure of the world.

-david roper 

"The more you visit it," Thomas a kempis said "the more you will want to return. "

i really believe we can make a special meeting place with the Lord. 

to curl up and just be. 

since i'm all about free-ness, i found a free green chair on the side of the road 

and claimed it as my prayer chair. 

i light candles, make tea, and just sit. 

but no matter how you do it, do it. 

we must be desperate for solitude, 

because without it, 

we lose our ability to hear from the king.

sit at his feet. 

let him feed you.

that is the place to be. 

photo of me by the lovely amanda estrada