Sometimes I forget that many of the things we do in NieuCommunities, though completely normal to us, are out of the ordinary for others – even other Christians. Case in point: solitude retreats.
We find it absolutely necessary to make time to be alone with God. Some like to spend this time in silence. Others like to process. Some need a walk in the woods. Whether you are introverted or extroverted, you need time alone with God – to listen, to talk, to dream.
While this is true for everyone, there are some things about our life that makes it particularly important:
- living in community
- being in a cross-cultural setting
- the overwhelming amount of physical need around us
We all pretty much agree on the importance of solitude. But apparently, others haven’t integrated this into their normal rhythm. This is evidenced by the general state of anxiety most people live in AND two of the reactions I got as I told people I was taking a retreat for the weekend.
Response 1: “I hope you find what you are looking for.” [well, time with God...]
Response 2: “What are you trying to run away from?” [people???]
Actually, just trying to get some concentrated with God. Is that so strange???