Gotta Have Solitude

In a recent post, called Reflections from Bedside, I commented on what it was like for me to be forced into solitude because I was sick for three days. In relation to this topic, I began thinking today again about the benefits of solitude and how I am so bad at it.

Next week, I'm beginning a book club with my friend Jeff on Henri Nouwen's The Only Necessary Thing: Living a Prayerful Life as a way both to get to know my fiance's best friend and to be held accountable to do more religious reading (I have to say I'm in love with my DVR box on Direct TV... it is so wonderful to go home from work and not have to study anymore unless I want to!). Thus far, I'm really enjoying this book. I would recommend it to those of you who are looking for a collection of thoughts/ quotes on prayer-- for it has got tons of them.

Part of learning to pray is learning to be alone. How easy it is for me and I know many of us to get so busy doing things that we forget the value of allowing quiet spaces to take hold in our lives! Often times I don't get quiet until the circumstances of my life force me too-- I get snowed in alone, a friend cancels our dinner plans, or I'm sick of course. But then when I do, I realize how good it is again to be alone, figuring out my life with a fresh perspective. And, I wish for more regular times like this during my week.

Into my struggle to find real solitude in my life, I read this today:

Listen to what Henri says: "Life without a lonely place, that is, a life without a quiet center, easily becomes destructive. . . . In solitude we can slowly unmask the illusion of our possessiveness and discover in the center of our own self that we are not what we conquer, but what is given to us. In solitude we discover that our life is not a possession to be defended, but a gift to be shared" (42-43).

Maybe the snow storm on its way to DC will force me into some more solitude tonight... who knows?