Solitude

I've had plenty, the past few days.  Tho not by choice (food poisoning), I really enjoyed it.  I'd forgotten how much I truly cherish alone time.

"I find it wholesome to be alone the greater part of the time. To be in company, even with the best, is soon wearisome and dissipating. I love to be alone. I never found the companion that was so companionable as solitude." -Henry David Thoreau, Walden

I used to have a sort of standing rule that I have 24hrs of alone time every week.  There were weeks when it would just happen, and there were weeks when I had to be deliberate about it.  I've felt lately that maybe God was calling me to not be so protective of my alone time and to trust Him more, so I've said "yes" to many more things than I normally would.   I have been blessed by new opportunities, friends and experiences I would not be having if I wasn't saying yes to more.

I do think I need more discernment in my yes'.  Jesus sought alone time. (Luke 5:16)  Obviously it is a good thing.  I know, for me, alone time with Jesus hiking in His creation is my favorite.  It sooo refuels me. I definitely need some help finding a balance.  Perhaps a hike is in order for tomorrow...*big smiles*

Staring into the Son

Went hiking again today at Burgess Falls, hoping to see some good Fall color. Pretty good, not quite in "full bloom" yet. Awesome time exploring different areas than before today, because there was TONS of water rolling over the Falls and the spray at the bottom was quite drenching! We were a good 50 yards back from the base of the Falls and getting drenched. We even hiked around the bend to some grist/iron mill ruins and there was STILL spray floating around in the air!

Definitely made me think of the concept of Overflow and how we're supposed to live out of it...

Can you imagine being so filled to overflowing that your "spray" reached even people on the fringes of your life? That bus driver you see everyday, the guy at the deli, your postman, that lady you let in front of you at the grocery story...

Driving home, we were heading straight into the setting sun. Sun visor wouldn't come down low enough, so I had to tilt my hat down to not be staring into the sun. Have you ever noticed that, even if you're not looking directly into the Sun, if you're looking towards the Sun and nothing is impeding it's light, everything else around you is not easy to see any more. Cars, Trees, the road, people cutting in front of you...They all become dimmer in the stark light of the Sun.

This made me think of Staring into the Son...

Seeing people around me colored with His light, their harshness removed. Distractions dimmed and moot because I can't see them anymore. Warmth reaching every part of me in the light.

"Turn your eyes upon Jesus
Look full in His wonderful face
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim
In the light of His glory and grace"