The closing thought stopped me — the idea that enabling another person's solitude could be your gift to them reframes what Christian community is fundamentally for. We think of community as the place we gather and speak; you're suggesting it's also the scaffolding that makes another's silence possible. That parenthetical about the parent of a young child felt like it deserved its own essay. What does faithful solitude look like for someone whose body is never fully their own?
This message fills my mind with a thought that is both alien and necessary. A conversation we never really have as Christians. Now I wonder if I am truly helping my brothers and sisters in Christ not only in the act communion and fellowship, but by granting them the necessary space for solitude.
I love how balanced this message is. On one hand, we need time alone to hear from our Father. On the other hand, however, completely separating yourself from others leaves a gap in your Christian duties and fosters a legalistic mindset.
The closing thought stopped me — the idea that enabling another person's solitude could be your gift to them reframes what Christian community is fundamentally for. We think of community as the place we gather and speak; you're suggesting it's also the scaffolding that makes another's silence possible. That parenthetical about the parent of a young child felt like it deserved its own essay. What does faithful solitude look like for someone whose body is never fully their own?
This message fills my mind with a thought that is both alien and necessary. A conversation we never really have as Christians. Now I wonder if I am truly helping my brothers and sisters in Christ not only in the act communion and fellowship, but by granting them the necessary space for solitude.
I love how balanced this message is. On one hand, we need time alone to hear from our Father. On the other hand, however, completely separating yourself from others leaves a gap in your Christian duties and fosters a legalistic mindset.
So good! Your St Mark’s retreat is the perfect workshop to learn the tools for this. The tools learnt have been life changing and priceless.
Getting the balance between alone time and together time right is the tricky bit which I’m still learning.
This post is worth printing and rereading. Thanks for taking the time to write and share all your posts. You keep us challenged and thinking!