Distractions Happen

I thought I might give you a peek behind the scenes as it ties into our silence and solitude practice this month.  Every week when I sit down to write this email I say out loud at some point “I don’t know what to write about this week.”  And every week my family responds in various ways - “You don’t have to write the email.”, “I’m sure you’ll figure it out.”  Or something along these lines.  

I have been writing a weekly email for nearly 4 years!  You would think by now I’d know exactly what I want to say each week.  But, alas, I don’t.  Some weeks I wonder if I might be out of words.  

The day I am writing is Sunday.  When I sat down at my computer today, I immediately checked Facebook.  Then I opened my email and followed some rabbit trails.  Then I got up from my computer and started a load of laundry.  Before I ever sat down I started the dishes.  And now, I want some tea and a snack.    

Honestly, I feel like there is always another thing to get done or another distraction to follow, which is why practicing these formation tools matters to me.  

When it comes to writing I have to just start typing.  It is the weekly work of writing that allows me to keep writing.  At times, I give myself permission to say all of the words in my head or heart without reservation, at other times I need to edit my words so they are honest, but also gracious.  Writing for others is vulnerable as you never know how it will be received.  

I share all of this with you because I think that when it comes to silence and solitude we experience many of these same challenges.  The noises of our inner and outer world swirl around us and could carry us away if we aren’t paying attention.  I could easily get so focused on the tasks in my life that I miss the opportunity to shut off all of the noise and abide with Jesus.  

And yet, I think an important truth is that it isn’t all or nothing.  It is ok, expected even, if our practice of silence and solitude is imperfect.  We may set aside time to be alone with God and a loved one interrupts that time with a question or a need.  We can get angry that we were disrupted, we can give up on our time of solitude and just get back to whatever the day holds, or we can address the need and then resume our time of being with our good father.  

It may not be a loved one disrupting our time.  It might be our own minds - we may have a checklist of things running through our heads that are distracting us from our practice of silence and solitude.  This is a real part of our lives.  God is not mad at us when we get distracted.  He isn’t disappointed when our minds wander.  He simply invites us to return to him.  

In the same way that I need to just start typing for the words to appear on the page, I also need to just be with Jesus to get better at being with Jesus.  It’s ok to not have all the right words, or even know what to do or say.  

Over the years I have realized that being with Jesus looks different in every season of life, and yet it looks the same too.  Jesus has called us friends and he desires for us to get to know him more every day.  We are invited into a lifetime of learning and growing.  A lifetime of recognizing his presence in every part of our day.  A lifetime of deep abiding.  

Silence and Solitude are just one way that we can get to know our friend Jesus more intimately.  Will you carve out time this week to abide with him?  I'd love to hear what this practice looks like for you.

~  Melissa