How is the state of your soul?
Its an interesting question that cannot be answered with just a glib response. Its not a question that one can say, “its fine,” “its ok,” “its great,” or any other such responses we may use when someone asks us how we are. You know how we can do when people ask us how we’re doing, how’s our day going, or other such inquiries.
I’m wondering today if we spend enough alone time, drawn away from the cares of the world. We spend a lot of time with friends, family, work colleagues. How much time do we spend with ourselves?
There is a real value in drawing apart from all that fills our world, and spending time coming to know and commune with yourself. It is in this practice where we can be brutally honest with how we truly are at our core. We can be introspective in really piercing ways, that spending time with others just simply can’t accomplish.
We are in the midst of our Lenten journey, where we contemplate the journey Jesus took to the cross. We know from the biblical accounts, Jesus was well aware of what the future held for him. We also know he had his struggles with the journey itself. In Gethsemane, we hear the poignant prayer of Jesus, asking God to let what lay ahead of him to not come to pass. The internal struggle of Jesus is clearly evident. This would definitely qualify as a dark night of the soul. What we should take note of is that Jesus drew away from his companions, from all that connected him to the physical world, in order to truly get to what lay at his core being.
When we don’t allow for that alone time, where we meet our soul face to face, too many distractions will keep us from truly being in touch with ourselves.
Alone time is good time, its valuable time, its worth the effort. Knowing one’s self can only truly be accomplished by spending the time with one’s self. Jesus knew that. Jesus often took the time to draw away from the world so that he could have the time and space he needed to truly know himself, and the state of his soul.
In our alone time, once we know ourself, we can approach God in a manner of being truly open and honest. This is what our soul needs when we talk with God. This is when we can really hear what God wants to say to us.
Back in the garden with Jesus, confronting his own anguish, his own trepidation, he was clear that going to the cross was not something he would choose. He did, however, place his soul in God’s hands. “Not my will, but thine.”
This is a high and holy time for so many around the world. Our Muslim friends are in the season of Ramadan, they are denying themselves physical comfort during the day in order to truly draw close to God and hear what God will say to them. Our Jewish friends will celebrate Passover from April 12-20 this year. They too, find this a spiritually important time to draw away from the cares of the world and to remember all God has done, is doing, and will yet do in the future. We are in the season of Lent, this is a time for us to draw away from the routines, the habits, the rote nature of our personal lives, and find time to spend assessing the state of our souls, and then to approach God in earnest prayer seeking God’s will for us.
I have been out of touch with my friend Moussa. He has truly separated himself from the world to enter into a time of introspection and conversation with God. His birthday was yesterday, and he did post on Facebook how this time has truly filled him and given him direction.
In my opinion, there is no better way to get to know the state of one’s soul than to separate from the mundane and ordinary things we engage in, and find time and space to discover how we truly are, and to come to know who God wants us to be. May our times apart be fruitful, and bring our souls much needed knowing, grieving, growing, and the peace that passes all understanding.
Your companion on the Way,
Pastor Tom