Flower in the middle of a vacant street in Ventspils.Dear Friends,
When I think of solitude, I remember the title of one of my third grade teacher and consummate musician's records, Solo; Not Alone.
I think of my favorite Duke Ellington tune that begins with the line, "In my solitude, you haunt me with reveries of days gone by."
When I think about solitude, I recall the words from one of Rev. Calitis' recent sermons: "We need to stop congratulating ourselves, and start loving ourselves... as God loves us." In my solitude I allow myself to be me. Stripped of my public persona, in my solitude, I must face my total self. In that space, I learn to love who I am.
I think about Henry David Thoreau's timeless manifesto: "I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived."
And, I remember those timeless words of sweet, sweet comfort from Hebrews: "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you."
In your solitude or in the midst of commotion, I invite you to take a couple minutes to respond to this post with your thoughts on solitude. Share a quote, an anecdote, or song lyrics. Offer a poem or pose a question.
I look forward to reading our collected wisdom.
Yours,
Tim
Remember, you do not have to open a "google" e-mail account to respond. Using your current e-mail address and a password of your choosing will enable you to post your comments.
7 comments:
A good question and something about which I've often wondered. I see so many people who seemingly have no solitude at all. Busy families, all-consuming jobs, ridiculous schedules, and I pity them. They're truly missing the best part of life...simply being alone. Oh, perhaps it's not a 24-7 lifestyle, but goodness!...to be without solitude! I can't imagine.
I've taken students and adults on overseas tours since '79, but somewhere in the mid-nineties I traveled to London for a week by myself. It was a whole different London. It was a London which I was able to see without filtering my impressions through the eyes of others, wondering where they were and what they were thinking. It was a London I could see and smell and feel at my leisure, not confined by a schedule other than "Oh, it's raining..perhaps I should go inside."
Would I prefer the solitude to communal life? Of course the answer is that a mix of the two is essential, but to have no times of real solitude or to fill up those times with the sound of a car radio for fear that the silence might crush me...no, that's not the life.
And I especially thrill for you, Tim. If you wanted some time alone in Jacksonville it wouldn't last longer than the next phone call or meeting or chance acquaintance on the street. But to be on the other side of the world where solitude is not only easily accessible but actually forced at times...Well, I'm glad you are discovering the blessing of that.
Thoreau had his off moments, but he nailed this one.
Praying for you, my friend...
kb
Isn't solitude one of the best teachers about one's self? And it isn't an exercise in self loving, rather a time to truly reflect about what is important. It affords us the time to understand where you've been, where you are, and where you are going. It also lays the foundation for your future. It's something that shouldn't be feared, but welcomed with the serenity that it grants us. You are learning life lessons, my friend. But, I'm sure you already know that.
I have been packing up my house the past few days getting ready for the move on Saturday. It has been nice being able to reflect on all the changes that have come about in my life over the past few months. But it has also been a really great time to shake my booty in the solitary confines of my own (soon to be someone else's) home. Ok, so the cats were watching...
I also love the Duke Ellington Song!
I love to fish. Usually I am the only one on Franklin Lake. One can certainly soak in the solitude. When I'm on the lake, all of the everyday annoyances of life melt away. The solitude of fishing brings a welcome break. Alone on the lake is like being in a massive sanctuary, a place to escape from the outside world. It's not the problems that come to mind, but rather all of the good things I have: my health, my family and friends. Solitude creates a space to appreciate all that we have been given.
In our busy world, solitude is a miracle of God. It is a gift to be received and enjoyed. Here is one of my favorite poems.Your friend in Christ, Jo
EVERYDAY MIRACLES
God, let me be content
With simple things;
The twinkling of a star,
A bird that sings,
The roaring of a wave,
A sunset view,
A tiny blade of grass,
A drop of dew,
Autumn's golden splendor,
A flower fair,
The echo of a woods,
A baby's stare,
The stillness of the night
A sky of blue,
Memories to treasure,
A friend that's true
A swallow's swift descent,
A timid fawn,
A mother's loving care,
The sun at dawn.
Simple things? Forgive my
Human frailty!
Each one a miracle
Revealing Thee!
Written by Francis H. O'Brien
(Hi, Tim. It's Nathan, not Carrie. This is from a few years ago, but I think it speaks to your topic, at least a little bit.) I was invited to be a part of a 2 day affair at a local Christian campground. Actually, both Carrie and I were, but she had other obligations, and I chose to come alone. It’s a neat idea. History says the church used to support artists. So this weekend is an opportunity for 27 or so of us to continue to develop our God-given gifts and to maybe try one or two new things while we’re at it.
Prior to this weekend, I had several things in mind – this, a little guitar, a little whip cracking, design work, carving, song writing, show writing…I don’t know. Lots of stuff. Well, I have been here for about 5-1/2 hours. I have a headache, and I have exhausted my desire, for the present, to play guitar and crack my whip. This morning, first thing after our gathering meeting, I just walked around the grounds – got the lay of the land. Very nice. I had neither the need nor desire to do really anything other than walk and live and breathe. Then it was lunch time and I desired to eat. After lunch, I didn’t know what I was going to do. I came back and got out the whip and cracked as long as I have ever cracked at any one time. Man, it’s loud out here. More so than it seems in town. That exhausted, I got out my guitar. That was a short-lived affair. There are so many guitar players here this weekend of such a caliber that I don’t consider myself a guitar player when I am in the same company. I was by myself while I was playing, but I just stopped, and sat. Under a tree by the pond with a breeze quintessential of an autumn breeze, I sat. I did nothing. I held the guitar and existed. No desire to play anymore.
I came to know in this brief time (indeed, it was only 30 minutes ago)(and a few years, as I mentioned at the outset) that I don’t have to do anything for contentment. My work here, I think, is to write, if only in journal form. Well, maybe a nap would be in order, too. I realized that while I may be adept at many different things, I do a very few things very well. Doing nothing is one of those things, I think. Not all that long ago, I wanted to be busy most all the time. Now, not so much. I’m pretty sure it’s not laziness. I may be tired. Maybe I’m depressed a bit. (again, then; not now) Mostly, I think that I am content to do nothing when given the real opportunity to do it…or not do it, however you want to look at it. So here I am. (still holds pretty true)
And I write. This offering of mine today is as much a journalistic approach as any, I suppose. As far as a lesson goes for this installment, it’s as I already said. Be still and listen. Stop doing and be. On The West Wing the other night (obviously not on anymore), the White House Chief of Staff told the interim President that “most of the time, this office is about doing nothing.” It may have been one of those lines that makes for good television. For me, it made for good sense. Stop trying to do and wait for instruction. I can only assume that I am doing what I’m supposed to at this moment as I find contentment in it. When I quit playing my guitar and just sat on that concrete bench under that tree, it felt right. This life isn’t always about doing something. You must be still and listen.
When I was in 4th grade our class did a gym session on ice skating. I decided to skate alone away from my friends one day, and I instantly felt this peace and calm. It was the first time I realized that I enjoy solitude. I'm not a "loaner," but I do need more time alone than most people in order to stay positive, creative and productive. I can always tell too when I have not had enough time alone.
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