Solitude vs Aloneness
15 12 11 21:32 Filed in: Reflections
I’m pretty sure there is a significant difference between solitude and aloneness, but pinning down that difference in words that communicate easily is more difficult than I thought. It’s a topic I’ve been pondering for a while.
Solitude is good. I value it. I know that I need time, spaces in my schedule, when I can step back from the normal rhythm and routine of life to gain perspective and to listen to God. Years ago I started to deliberately insert such times into my life, and they have been of great value. It’s hard to do because there are always other people who own part of our schedule, or who think they do. (Maybe they just rent it.) Times of solitude have helped prepare me for life’s surprises, the ones that bring joy and the ones that bring pain. And the ones that bring both.
Aloneness is not good. For much of my life I have successfully avoided it. Perhaps there is a better word for it than aloneness - disconnectedness perhaps? I’m convinced that we were created for relationship - with God and with other people. Aloneness seems to me to be something other than God’s design. And yet there are some people who seem to enjoy it or who manage to transform it into solitude.
Solitude enhances relationship; aloneness destroys it. I suppose it is a delicate dance to embrace solitude without also embracing aloneness. I’m pretty sure I’m not done processing the difference, so feedback is particularly welcome. What do you think?
Solitude is good. I value it. I know that I need time, spaces in my schedule, when I can step back from the normal rhythm and routine of life to gain perspective and to listen to God. Years ago I started to deliberately insert such times into my life, and they have been of great value. It’s hard to do because there are always other people who own part of our schedule, or who think they do. (Maybe they just rent it.) Times of solitude have helped prepare me for life’s surprises, the ones that bring joy and the ones that bring pain. And the ones that bring both.
Aloneness is not good. For much of my life I have successfully avoided it. Perhaps there is a better word for it than aloneness - disconnectedness perhaps? I’m convinced that we were created for relationship - with God and with other people. Aloneness seems to me to be something other than God’s design. And yet there are some people who seem to enjoy it or who manage to transform it into solitude.
Solitude enhances relationship; aloneness destroys it. I suppose it is a delicate dance to embrace solitude without also embracing aloneness. I’m pretty sure I’m not done processing the difference, so feedback is particularly welcome. What do you think?
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