“And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, He went out and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed.” Luke 1:35.

Many of us need our alone times. I’m actually realizing that I am doing this more and more.

I need my time to myself and yet I wonder at times if I’m spending too much time alone. I do enjoy my time with others, but my circle of friends is not very wide.

Those that I tend to be with share my beliefs and probably some of my opinions as well. Certainly my time with my wife is important and if I’m wise I would tend to nurture that more.

I didn’t perhaps realize or just wasn’t maybe focusing on my need for alone time in years past, because of being involved in a profession such as teaching where communication and being with others, was simply part of the job.

I could feel lonely at times and yet, I do enjoy my own company and somehow crave it. I’ve mentioned many times about the need for solitude and yet solitude is completely different from loneliness.

Someone who is lonely cries perhaps for the need of human contact and maybe isn’t comfortable with being alone.

And one could certainly say that we are all ultimately alone. We come into the world alone but are immediately then with a mother and father and siblings.

But as we grow older especially, in one’s later years, a time of inner reflection seems to take place.

And yet shouldn’t we all be able to reflect on our own lives, thinking of who we have become and ultimately where we are going?

I don’t want this writing to become something of a deep, philosophical inquiry or anything, I’m just noticing my own perception of the need for alone time and solitude.

I also could think that this is selfish and perhaps a self-serving type of existence. I certainly hope not because our time alone should not only reflect upon our own spiritual growth and perception, but also enable us to become better people when we come together again.

Maybe I’m saying these things and evolving because I tire of the hypocrisy and plastic-ness of many whom I read about, and even come into contact with.

I need and want to see a genuineness and transparency with those who I see.

When our conversations about our faith becomes so full of glib comments and worn out phrases, then I ultimately want to just walk away.

I tire of a plastic faith and a plastic existence. There’s enough of this in the world around us. We’re bombarded with commercials and bill boards that are trying to sell this item or that one.

We shouldn’t be here to advertise our faith or even our personhood. We should live our lives out in those beliefs in an honesty and openness to those we meet and converse with.

Just like an aged wine that finally matures and possesses the inherent beauty that it has become, so should we as we live out our days.

Can we just be honest with ourselves and others, and quit playing the games that many of us still seen to enjoy?

 

Selah,
~ Stephen Hanson

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Stephen Hanson of In His Truth Ministries came to The LORD is a special way in 1975 and has prophesied regularly since. In these end-time birthing pangs we are reminded that judgment must first begin with the household of God. Will we be prepared and ready?

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