A Solitary Place
A Solitary Place
by Anna Murdock
Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the
house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed. (Mark 1:35)
Jesus has said, "Follow me" and nets have dropped. Our faith journey begins.
We are very much like children trying to match our footsteps into the
footprints of Jesus. There are days when we find that it is seems impossible
to do but we keep walking on this journey with Jesus, running to catch up
and then falling behind. There are other days when our stride isn't Jesus'
stride and we have to take much bigger steps than we are accustomed to
doing. Leaping from footprint to footprint. Whew, I am out of breath! And
finally, there are those days when we settle into a comfortable pace. Just
when this pace becomes comfortable, we begin to notice something. The One
who has said, "Follow me" stops for directions! Intentionally, Jesus goes to
a solitary place, where he prays.
We are following one who knows what it is like to have the hours of his days
filled with tuggings on the hem of his garment as well as tuggings on his
heart. He walks among the masses from town to town. In his great compassion
and with a holy authority, he heals. In an urgency that only Jesus can
sense, he teaches his disciples. In the midst of the crowds, Jesus
experiences both joy and grief. He is constantly on guard from the ones who
are trying every possible way to entrap him. He is thirsty. He is tired. He
needs sleep. He has new disciples following him, leaping from footprint to
footprint and he is well aware that his steps need to be steadfast and sure
and within God's will. Jesus knows that he needs direction from his Father
and so he seeks a solitary place.
Yes, Jesus seeks silence and solitude. This time set aside, alone with his
Father, is much more important and productive than the extra hour's sleep
that his body needs. He is deliberate in his choices of place and time for
prayer. He knows that this is a special time when he can rest in the arms of
his Father without external demands. One-on-one time. A time to receive his
daily direction, to inhale trust and to exhale all things that desire to
divert him from what he is to do. I can't help but think that it is in these
moments when Jesus remembers the scriptures of his childhood - "In quietness
and trust is your strength."
One of the great gifts of God-Among-Us, is that Jesus truly knows our
tiredness as we try to walk in his footsteps. He understands what it is like
to have days that are emotionally draining from broken hearts as well as the
"good kind of tired" from days of great joy as his disciples. Our days are
familiar to Jesus. But oh, what he must not understand about us is that we
make time for anything and everything else during our day, to the point of
exhaustion, and yet often push that time that he cherishes so much - that
time of solitude and silence - completely out of our schedules.
In the mornings, in the evenings, Jesus kneels. At a time when the options
are far from easy, Jesus kneels. In solitude, with intention, Jesus kneels.
Jesus kneels and prays to be perfectly in tune with his Father's will. This
is part of who we are as disciples, following, matching footprint for
footprint, yes. Finding a solitary place to seek direction, always.
Gracious God . You long to meet us in those solitary places and in those
quiet moments, don't you? Your arms are opened equally as wide for those who
meet in this place often and for those who have come to this solitary place
for the first time. There are times for sure when we can barely utter a
word. There are other moments when our heart spills out to you. Surely, it
is in this solitary place where we find that our footsteps begin to match
your Son's footsteps more closely. Thank you for loving us so much as to
want to meet us there. Show us your will, O God. Show us your will. Amen.
(Comments to Anna at abmurdo@northstate.net.)
Worship Team Leader
Broad Street UMC
Statesville, NC