Solitude.

I find it interesting when people who don't proclaim to believe in God practice disciplines that Christians find beneficial to their relationship with the Lord. Solitude, in particular, is what I believe to be the most practiced discipline outside of the Christian faith (unless you consider anorexia fasting). Often times you'll hear about someone retreating to be alone and experience nature. Justin Vernon created arguably one of the best albums created while spending time in a cabin in the woods. Alone. One of his journal entries says "My friends are a thousand miles away. I miss them. But here I am with re-run marathons and an opus. I'm okay. I'm doing okay." Solitude is difficult, but he did it to heal. He was alone to think. He needed to distance himself from the intensity of the United States.

Solitude changed my comprehension of the reality of who God is. I learned to listen. Because of solitude, I know what it means to hear God. I have had Resehs (religious experiences) in solitude; therefore, I often think about spending a season of life in a cabin in the woods by myself to focus all my attention on God. To become needy and to find that need be filled only by the Lord. Life is busy, solitude is not. It is often when I am overwhelmed by the clutter of life that I desire to completely distance myself. It is possible that I would go insane because I thrive off interactions with people, yet that is precisely why I think a long period of solitude would be good for me.

In silence, God speaks and comforts.
In silence, I hear and know.