Solitude vs Loneliness

Solitude versus loneliness, I have been wondering what the difference is, do you know? Loneliness has negative connotations. It seems sterile and lifeless, dark and empty. Solitude sounds much more positive, but what makes the real difference?

The word loneliness often indicates a lack of human company, and yet, some people say they feel alone in a crowd. It must be a state of mind then. Loneliness must be how one perceives the condition of their well being, of their satisfaction, of living in their own skin comfortably.

Solitude, may also indicate a lack of human companionship, but without the negative feelings such a condition may generate. Could so-called introverts thrive in solitude while extroverts are starved by it? What would it take for an extrovert like me to relish solitude and embrace it?

Is anyone ever really alone? Believers in God Almighty are never alone. It follows that awareness of the Presence of God must be cultivated and sought after so lonesomeness can be transformed into the more peaceful and comforting solitude. 

This all sounds like there is some choosing going on, doesn't it? What would be the best way to approach acquiring solitude and rejecting loneliness? I propose active searching after God, His character, His promises and His direction. There is only one place where one can find truth unaltered by cultural distortions and that is in the scripture, the Bible. That is where I am often and where I go in my quest. We have the promise that if we ask, seek and knock, we will receive an open door, an answer without any scolding or recrimination. So, I am going to continue to pursue solitude when I am not serving. How about you?       Doma

Extending Grace

Upon reading my own writing from the 80’s, when I was beginning to find my way around in life as a Christian, I am amazed at my lack of grace toward anyone who thought differently than I did. As time has gone by and my study time in God’s word has increased, I’ve begun to appreciate the grace Christ showed to those around Him.

It was grace that prompted Him to turn water into wine, even though He advised His mother, “My time has not yet come.” Jesus showed grace and compassion to that couple by sparing them embarrassment and saving their wedding feast. Someone else, perhaps an official of the local synagogue, might have chided the families of the bride and groom for not planning well enough. They might have been correct in their estimation of the reason for the problem of running out of wine. Wasn’t grace needed more than an assessment of what caused the problem and blame passing?

Scripture is filled with Jesus’ gracious acts. The woman discovered in the very act of adultery was shown grace. The result was a life spared, a lesson taught and pitiless, self-righteous people made to face their own sins. Extending grace has an amazing effect on those who receive it. After all, “It’s His kindness that leads us to repentance.”Therefore when we show kindness rather than scathing judgment, even when we are correct in our assessment of wrongdoing, perhaps repentance will follow.We can never err by extending grace to others. How they receive it is up to them.     Doma

What Goes In, Comes Out

We all agree that defensive driving is a good idea. What about defensive viewing, listening and thinking when it comes to media intake. Road blocks to clear moral thinking can confront you anytime in the media. “Media can lead us to accept some things without any discussion.” This statement from talk show host Jo Rathmanner on Connecting Faith (KNWC AM) really got my attention. Failing to be discerning about media happens all the time. You are responsible for how you think. How you think comes from what you allow into your mind. Beware of mindless TV or video viewing. It can impair and erode you and your family’s morals!

 An example would be watching a popular situation comedy or a soap opera portraying people compromising their values, swearing or making unwise decisions, presenting all of this with humor so we are sympathetic and feel empathy for the characters. It never ends. An agenda is apparent if you watch with a discerning eye and listen for what the show is selling in the way of acceptable behavior.

There is a rather strange commercial for a casino/hotel that uses images and words one after the other or pairs of words that challenge good, right and correct as though the ideas these words express are wrong, boring and confining. The effect is strange because it leaves a person wandering why this barrage of negative ideas is in any way related to a hotel reservation.

Another complaint I have is swearing continuously in a talk show, movie or TV show. Unbridled cursing is unattractive – period! It simply shows a lack of ability to express one’s self, a limited vocabulary and a mind filled with garbage. I can never take anyone seriously who uses obscene words on a regular basis because it seems to me they are not too bright. Yes, that is a bias I have about people who curse. Just say what you mean, please!

To conclude, I have to get back on my initial idea that indiscriminate viewing and media consumption is destroying morals in our culture. Maybe someone will think twice about what they take in.                                                 Doma

Famous Last Words Reveal Love

When I was recently reading the last words of Jesus on the cross (in John’s gospel, chapter 19, verse 30), I came to a startling realization - Even though I understand that Jesus came to earth to die for the sins of man, according to the Father’s will, these words affected me most profoundly. According to what I read, Jesus chose the moment He would die, saying, “It is finished.” He then bowed His head and gave up His spirit.

We know He could have called a legion of angels to rescue Him as He was tortured and hanged on the cross. We know He prayed to be spared from the agony of death by crucifixion, yet He chose to hold in check the power He had as the Son of God for our best good – forgiveness and the gift of eternal life for those who believe in Him.

He did exercise His power while on the cross. He audibly asked His Father to forgive those who crucified Him that day. He provided for His mother in giving her into the care of the apostle John. He exercised His authority to not only forgive, but to assure the repentant thief of a place in Paradise. Seeing the words that tell me Jesus chose to release His spirit makes it clear His death is an offering, a sacrifice deliberately made on our behalf. We know this is true through reading and studying scripture, but seeing it so plainly has impacted my thinking and made Christ’s love even more real to me. I pray that contemplating these words will fill you with gratitude as it does me.    Doma

Don't Lean on the Wrong Understanding

There is nothing more limiting than human understanding. Bound within the confines of our mental capacity, our experience, and the culture in which we live, our understanding goes no farther than what we allow into our minds.

 I am thinking about our limited understanding because it is challenged by the writer of Proverbs chapter three, verses five and six. These verses say, “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, do not depend on your own understanding. In all your ways rely on Him and He will direct your path.”

The debris and pain of those who rely on what their own hearts and understanding tell them litters social media pages. Broken relationships, revengeful and hasty comments, snide remarks and bitter, caustic statements display a lack of proper understanding.

If, in all our ways we rely on the LORD, He who has completed understanding and can be totally trusted, there would be a wonderful change. God would be directing our path. He who knows the past and future would be in charge. We would not be pushing our way through life trying to make things happen and trusting what little we know as a guide to our direction.

So, can God be trusted to direct our path? The Almighty who created the heavens and the earth, the seas and the galaxies and who holds everything together by His word; He can be trusted to provide guidance. When doubt enters into our thinking (because it is injected there by the evil one) we need not fear. It is not sinful to have questions, but to deliberately decide that God is not trustworthy and we ourselves are, is wrong.

Lay your doubts and questions before the LORD and ask Him for His understanding. Actively seek to clarify any matter you have by reading the scripture, talking to a pastor who believes the gospel and praying with Christian friends. Another passage comes to mind in Matthew that says to ‘. . . ask, seek and knock”. These questions bring rejoicing to God for He loves to answer, be found and open the door of deeper faith to you as you are willing.

So please do not depend on your own puny understanding of things that come your way. Consistently depend on God to lead you and He says He will do it. I do not know about you, but I am choosing to rely on Him.                  Doma