Solitude and Silence

During Spring Break, most people head to the beaches—where crowds of young people gather to relax and enjoy themselves. My soul craves to head up into the mountains—to solitude and silence—where the voice of God speaks through the majestic peaks, whispers through the wildflowers, and brings clarity through the crystalline lakes.

Theologian and author, Henri Nouwen describes solitude and silence from the viewpoint of early Christian monks who withdrew from worldly affairs and spent their lives in contemplation and manual labor in the deserts:

“The Desert Fathers did not think of solitude as being alone, but as being alone with God. They did not think of silence as not speaking, but as listening to God. Solitude and silence are the context with which prayer is practiced.” (The Way of the Heart by Henri Nouwen)

When we arrange little pockets of solitude and silence in our day to commune with God, He meets us in these quiet spots. These little retreats into solitude and silence, these mini-sabbaticals, become like rest stops on our daily journey. Alone with Him, we are able make Him our primary focus. Away from all the external and internal noise and chatter, we can finally listen to Him. He refreshes, recharges, and restores His Spirit within us.