There are times when we need a little solitude. And last night was one of them.
I was pretty tired but hadn’t eaten very much all day long so I needed to get some dinner. Folks up here told me that I could get some good Chicago style pizza at Beggars Pizza so I went on a hunt to find the one near my hotel.
When I walked in the place it was really loud and the entry way was filled with a mob of people under 4 feet tall. I quickly weighed out my desire for good pizza against wanting to find a quiet place to enjoy reading some more in my book over dinner and I chose not to wade through all the kiddies to find a table.
But just looking at their web site this morning has my mouth watering. I might just go back.
Anyway I ended up a Chili’s, which probably wouldn’t have been my first choice for a quiet place, but I wanted to go someplace that I hadn’t been to here yet and I figured I was a bit earlier than their busiest hour.
I was right. In fact the hostess set me in a section with no people initially and then apparently forgot to tell the waitress that I was there. I had plenty of time to read. When my food got there it was wonderful. But I spent a little more than I was used to paying for dinner. They kind of made Bob Evans look pretty good!
Why did I want some time to myself when I’m stuck here in my hotel room by myself? Sometimes I just need to get away for a spell and think. There is a Psalm that says
Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; do not fret when men succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes.
Gorgeous and I are working through some things and we see some people who are getting ahead by using methods that seem a little off kilter with our ethics. It has been going on for some time and it is hard to watch.
Couple that with some other things that I have going on and I needed some time to get my head straight again.
The Bible portrays Jesus as consistently spending time in solitude to balance out the time he spent amongst the throngs of needy people pulling at him. I figure if it is good for Jesus, then it might be a good idea for me too.
Enjoy!
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I identify with you, Chris. I know that when I want some solitude I often end up at a coffee shop or book store. It’s sort of that “alone in the crowd” thing. The activity around me doesn’t distract me (I don’t think) it wraps me somehow. I know it’s not what Jesus meant by “in the world but not of it” but it feels like that sometimes – I’m immersed in this world buzzing around me, but at the moment I’m alone with God.
Thanks for posting.
“Alone in a crowd” kind of explains how I feel anytime I visit a big city, Tom.
Like yesterday afternoon when I got turned around a little closer to down town than I’ve been all week. I drove around a bunch of side streets and even found myself cruising right through the heart of Chinatown.
All in all it was an adventure. But even with all those people around it did feel a bit lonely.
CC –
I think the ‘alone in a crowd’ thing is so pervasive because we are meant to live, not in crowds, but in community. Crowds are so impersonal even if they are crowds we want to be part of. How many times do people feel alone in a large church, for example?
The only thing crowds can be good for is getting lost in. Those folks you reference that are behaving poorly likely have no one to whom they are accountable, no one to counsel and correct them, no one they are in community with. While I don’t know what you should do about helping them realize their intellectual and spiritual poverty (that was another of your posts, as I recall) it is good to know that you and Gorgeous are choosing the higher road. It will pay off for you in the ways that matter most, my friend.
While I figure you’re like me in that you don’t like being away from your girlfriend for long periods of time, I’ve enjoyed seeing another side of you while you are apart. I can’t say that I hope to see a lot more of this Chris but I’ll say thanks for letting this side of you come out to play.
Blessings,
Ken
I’ve come to realize that when you expose yourself to others…
A) You have nowhere to hide
B) You have Nothing to hide from
Even during personal struggles, when you’re open about it you become human. You get to be reminded that even as a Christian, we are falable. I also find that it can be an encouragement to others (strangely enough) since many people see the strong Christian role as an unattainable one. When they learn that we all have our flaws and struggles, it re-enforces that they can be strong too. Weird but true.
My wife and I argue. Sometimes spat… sometime fight (not Tyson-like of course) but we know that neither is going ANYWHERE so within the structure of Godly marriage, we’re free to “work out our salavation” (in a manner of speaking)
Ken, thanks for your encouragement. Although I was just told today that I should expect my time here in Chicago to be extended by a few days. One of the down sides of being good at what you do, eh?
I’m not sure I completely agree with you that “the only thing crowds are good for is getting lost in” although I do understand your point about community. I think there is something that feeds our souls when we are in a large crowd that is all passionate about the same thing.
For example whenever I’ve been in a packed out stadium of tens of thousands of fans all pulling for “my” team it is electrifying. The feeling is similar to when I’ve been in a large gathering of thousands who are all passionately worshiping the same God as me.
So while your point about community is quite valid, I’m not willing to entirely throw out the value of the crowd in all cases.
Dave, I try to live a Popeye life: “I yam what I yam and that’s all that I yam and I ain’t no more!” So pretty much what you see is what you get as far as I am concerned. It is easier too because I then I don’t have to try to remember what image I’m supposed to be presenting to whomever is looking at the moment.
And I’m glad you don’t to Tyson-like on your bride! I bet her ears are glat too!
Chris -
As football time rolls around again, I can relate to your reference to stadiums filled with folks. Still, even in that situation, it is not possible to relate to a crowd. You can be caught up in it or run over by it but there is no relating to it.
Even when we are at a Titans game with thousands of other fans, we still have fun with a couple of other like minded folks around us. We establish our own little temporary community. I know that there are 30,000 people across the stadium that are with me in spirit. But we will likely always be strangers to one another for all that we have in common.
That’s the thinking behind my comment. That having been said, I have no problems retracting my comment and allowing that there are myriads of uses for crowds … after all, your blog, your rules **grin**
Sorry to hear about your extended trip. But there’s always the reunion to look forward to. It’s been so long since I lived in the Chicago area I have no places to recommend. Another blog friend, Tom Vander Well, said he and family were in Chicago last week and saw the King Tut exhibit. I saw it there some 30 years ago. If you get the chance – I’ll steer you to that. It was impressive.
Blessings,
Ken
Ken, My rules are few and simple: No profanity and Don’t be abusive (or, stated in the positive, Be nice).
Other than that folks are free to disagree with me all they want. I’m not so interested in being right as I am in getting folks to think. And maybe having them get me to think along the way.
The trouble I seem to be having here in Chicago is too much work and not nearly as much time to go gallivanting around as I’d like. Ah well.