Grace & Truth
Finding refuge in silence and solitude BY PASTOR WEBB
T
he sun warming the back of my neck
the snow-covered Mt. Hermon and fishers
hopes are dashed, we find them fishing. They
with my head laid on the window of
sailing or cleaning their nets.
always found such comfort out on the sea, in
my dad’s truck. I think back to when
Even from the mountain, he could still see
I was a kid, and those were the best naps.
the intensity of human interaction. But only in
Jacob heard from God while he was
Remembering how I used to sleep, I would
the distance. Sometimes being alone outside
sleeping with his head on a rock. Moses spoke
have a kink in my back for days if I were to nap
or walking with someone else is so healing.
to God in the wilderness, looking at a bush that
like that again!
the sun, working together.
It was even for Jesus.
caught fire. David learned of God’s faithfulness among the sheep in pastures along the side of
I used to love riding my 4-wheeler in the
How many stories do we see in the Word
woods, stopping in the middle of nowhere to
of God where people are restored after taking
sit and think.
Bethlehem.
time in nature? Elijah was scared to death of
The angels announced Jesus’ coming to
There is something healing, restoring,
Jezebel just moments after the incredible
people working outside. I mean, even God
about seeing all the “life” that is living
victory on Mt. Carmel. He runs deep into the
preferred the Tabernacle to a Temple. Even
without anyone making it happen. There
wilderness to hide, and there God finds him,
God wants to be more evident outside rather
are no computer programs keeping spider
gives him rest and builds him back up.
than inside our walls.
webs stretching through the trees. No app
Maybe, the key to becoming unhinged
When Jesus died, and John and Peter’s
replenishes the river with fish. We don’t have
from our stressful life is unplugging ourselves
to text anyone to make the grass grow.
and being re-energized by the source of
The world grows and goes without a
physical energy, the sun, and reconnected by
single demand. Our worlds have become so automated and designed and structured and busy and tiring. There is something about walking outside for just a few moments that brings refreshment. When Jesus got overwhelmed, he removed himself. He didn’t take a nap or play a video game. He walked up into a mountain. The mountains of the Galilee area still to this day are a refuge of silence and solitude. Sure, there are more cities today than in Jesus’ day, and still, along those hills, there is plenty of room to spread out and think. Jesus would walk up those hills of grass and stare across the majestic Galilee. In the distance, he saw
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the source of true life, the son of God.
There is something about walking outside for just a few moments that brings refreshment.
Okay, I don’t mean to be cheesy, but what if the answer to most problems is leaving them alone to see the life that happens without our working toward it. The sparrows are fed, and the fields are dressed beautifully whether we help or not. Mountains, seas, animals, and the sky are governed by something greater than us. So, go see something beautiful. I bet there is more beauty in your backyard than on your phone. Go and see for yourself. Pastor Emanuel Webb Hoggard is Pastor at Askewville Assembly of God. He can be reached via email at pastorwebb@hotmail.com.
