Tuesday, August 7, 2018

Want to just get away? So did Jesus, apparently!


Do you ever feel like you just need to get away?  How many times in the past week have you told someone you were going to run away from all the crazy, go somewhere where there is NOBODY around?

If that sounds familiar, then so should the “Walking on the Water” passage in the Gospel of Matthew, Chapter 15 (Verse 22.)

It begins with this:

“Then he [Jesus] made the disciples get into the boat and precede him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds.  After doing so, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray.”

Even Jesus, inundated with the crowds and his questioning disciples, needed some solitude!  First he sends off his disciples in a boat, and then tells everyone else they can leave!  Notice though, what he does with his time.  It is very telling.

He goes off by himself to pray.  What would you do if you had some time alone?  Would praying be the first thing you would think to do?  For many, our idea of being refreshed in the solitude isn’t really solitude.  Would you take your phone or tablet?  Maybe a good book to read?

Is solitude only the absence of people?

Jesus clearly took nothing with him—whatever his equivalent of our modern day distractions would be.  I think he is on to something here.  How long could you be by yourself without something to do?  

When we were discussing how to do an opening prayer before a meeting one day—considering silence as an option—a friend said ten minutes would be much too long for her to simply sit still.

Why not try it and see how you do?  Send me your ideas about how you pray and manage to sit still in the quiet.  If you share your struggles, that might help others as well.

Remember, we are never alone, as God is always with us.  Listening in the quiet is a big part of prayer.  Just think, that let’s us off the hook from having to “do” anything!

God bless,
Janet Cassidy
janetcassidy.com


No comments:

Post a Comment