November 21, 2024
A few years ago, scientists at the University of Virginia conducted a study in which people had to sit in a room in complete silence (without their cell phones or other devices) for about 15 minutes. However, in front of them was a small button that would give them an electric shock. If they pressed the button and shocked themselves, they could leave the room. According to the study, 67% of men and 25% of women pushed the button to be shocked rather than sit in solitude and silence for 15 minutes.
Many people are uncomfortable with silence and solitude. The weight of sitting with just our own thoughts is too much to bear. It’s why people now walk around with AirPods dangling from their ears 24/7, why people keep their TVs blaring all day long, and why many of us cannot even take out the garbage without listening to a couple of minutes of a podcast. We are a people who squirm when faced with silence or solitude.
But our souls are not made for constant noise. The Bible speaks of the importance of both silence and solitude:
Be still and know that I am God. (Psalm 46:10)
For God alone my soul waits in silence. (Psalm 62:1)
By waiting and by calm you shall be saved, in quiet and in trust shall be your strength. (Isaiah 30:15)
In the morning, while it was still very dark, Jesus got up and went out to a deserted place, and there he prayed. (Mark 1:35)
The writer Henri Nouwen said, “Solitude is the furnace of transformation.” We need both silence and solitude in our spiritual lives if we ever hope to grow into a more intimate relationship with God.
On February 23-25, 2025 I am inviting a small group of you to join me at St. Francis Springs Prayer Center for a spiritual retreat devoted to the cultivation of solitude in our spiritual lives. We will be working through a study called Practicing the Way: Solitude. We will also have times of practicing solitude, but also fellowshipping with one another as we seek to grow closer to God.
The cost for the retreat is $200/individual or $250/couple. This covers the costs of your meals, your housing, and the retreat materials. You must be registered by Monday, December 9. To register, email Kristin Morris at kmorris@ardmorebaptist.org. And if you have any questions about the retreat, feel free to reach out to me at ttankersley@ardmorebaptist.org.
