DURING MY SINGLE YEARS, at every opportunity, I loaded my tent and other camping paraphernalia into the car and headed deep into the Carolina or Tennessee hills. Maybe it was a few inherited Cherokee brain cells or just my yen for solitude, but I always traveled alone. Looking back, that was probably not entirely wise.
But I’ve always loved getting away, and never gave danger consideration. When I was certain no one was around and I was not on private property I would pitch my tent by a rushing creek or waterfall, build a fire, pull my guitar from the back seat and sing, play, and pray with the rest of God’s creatures well into the night.
I was in my Creator’s cathedral—unhindered by life’s distractions. And though I can’t recall exactly how the conversations went, I do remember I always headed home far more peaceful and confident than when I came. I’m glad I learned the value of solitude with God.
We humans were fashioned to be working creatures. Producers. We have bills to pay and food to buy and places to live and keep. Responsibility. Kids. The spouse! Besides, God plainly said that we were never meant to stay in solitary confinement. And . . . eventually, we have to grow up.
The Covid 19 situation descended the day after I retired, and the day before the world started shutting down. I had so looked forward to traveling once again and even had Italy at the top of my list. “Oh, but maybe this won’t last long,” I wished. Sigh. And, by the way, all the parks and recreation areas were closing as well.
At first, everyone was light-hearted about ‘shelter-in-place’, but it isn’t funny anymore. And when frustration and suffering drag on, it seems that evil—which always looks for an opportunity—proved once again that a lack of skill in personal integrity, making reasonable decisions, and showing loving-kindness to our neighbors is as insidious as any plague.
People who love God must find a way to refocus. To be in the world but not of it.
We may be flooding ourselves with family time. And that can be good. We should also seize the opportunity to spend time alone with God. ALONE. We are far too used to the constant motion, noise, and clutter of our world. We don’t even escape it in those rare times we ARE alone by choosing to have a TV or radio on or even reading the internet. Anything to avoid silence.
Remember, Jesus warned us when he talked about the seed planted in thorny soil, where “the worries of this life” choke out spiritual life. Even parents with young children can plan sacred alone time if only one hour—while their spouse entertains the kids.
Jesus insisted time and again that we find our core spiritual identity not in public displays of devotion, but in privacy. “When you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.”
I want to encourage you, before things become “normal” again, to consider the quarantine a gift. Don’t be afraid to talk to God alone. Perhaps He will be as humorous with you as He was with Elijah (I Kings 19) when, as if He didn’t know the answer, He gently whispered (twice), “So Elijah (or your name), why are you here?”
Respectfully, let the child in you speak to your Creator; why not? Children are Honest. Open. Curious. Naive. And adorable. You will emerge your chat a better person—confident, peaceful, happy, and with greater hope for your future and the ones you love than you’ve had in a long time.
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