In the early days of the pandemic, I heard and saw the expression, “I’ve been training my whole life for this”. It was tongue-in-cheek humor. When we began to settle in and comply with the guidelines to socially distance, stay home, us introverts had little problem with it, even welcomed it as a reason, not excuse, to isolate. It felt good, knowing we were doing our part to stop the spread while being our most authentic selves. After months of it, however, I began to get restless, longing for in-person social interaction, fellowship, fun times. It is our human nature to need the balance. We can only pretend to play off isolation and socialization against each other. Prayer is the connecting thread between solitude and active interpersonal engagement. When we do our work of faith in God’s name, it comes from a basis in prayer. Alone time is not withdrawal; it is repose. Our Lord was never more engaged than when he was alone in prayer. That’s when we allow God to continue and complete the work we have begun in Him. We also pray that God will activate us when we come out of our solitude.

Henri Nouwen expresses it best: “the movement from loneliness to solitude is not a movement of growing withdrawal but is instead a movement towards a deeper engagement in the burning issues of our time.” Just as we lose ourselves in activity, we don’t always find ourselves in withdrawal. Focus and energy are more fleeting than we would like them to be. We still get disillusioned and discouraged when we try so hard and still feel so empty. In these moments, surrender to the refreshing, renewing Holy Spirit. Allow yourself to be unconditionally loved and strengthened. The tension and release, the ebb and flow of life’s waves are the journey that always has God’s hand on the rudder.

Pastor Art