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