Monday Morning Manna: Solitude Sometimes

As a workaholic, I never cared much for solitude. Oh, I knew about it and my need for it, but I just never made time for much of it. I could quote Psalm 46:10, “Be still and know that I am God” and even learned the NASV translation, “Cease striving and know that I am God.” Even when I taught this as a part of discipleship, I quickly added, “Do as I say, not as I do.” Workaholics think very little of solitude and workaholics who are also perfectionist think even less. But we who are defined as such, grow older and to some extent at least, wiser. As the body slows down, the mind finds time for quiet reflection. Now, rather late in the journey, I’m learning about the benefits of solitude. I’m learning that the best time to rest is when I don’t have time for it. Socrates warned to, “Beware the barrenness of a busy life.” A little bit later, Robert Louis Stevenson wrote, “He who sows hurry reaps indigestion.” More recently, Ralph Marston, Owner and Writer of the internet based, “The Daily Motivator” wrote, “Rest when you’re weary. Refresh and renew yourself, your body, your mind, your spirit. Then get back to work.” So having acknowledged solitude and its benefits, please excuse me – I need to get back to work.

Dr. Dan Crawford, Senior Professor at Southwestern Baptist Seminary, is the WestCoast Baptist Association’s Spiritual Life & Leadership Mentor. Follow Dan on Twitter @DrDanRC and Facebook www.facebook.com/dan.crawford.