Loneliness & Solitude (week 1 of many)

"Solitude...is not private time in contrast to time together, nor is it a time to restore our tired minds. Solitude is very different from a 'time-out' from our busy lives. Solitude is the very ground from which community grows. Whenever we pray alone, study, read, write, or simply spend quiet time away from the places where we interact with each other directly, we are potentially opened up for a deeper intimacy with each other. It is a fallacy to think that we grow closer to each other only when we talk, play, and work together. Much growth certainly occurs in such human interactions, but these interactions derive their fruit from solitude, because in solitude our intimacy with each other is deepened. In solitude we discover each other in a way that physical presence makes difficult if not impossible. In solitude we know a bond with each other that does not depend on words, gestures, or actions but is rather a bond much deeper than our own efforts could create."- Henri J.M. Nouwen, "Clowning in Rome"
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Often times our immediate response to loneliness is to recoil into it or seek an immediate amelioration. Sometimes our amelioration is benign - a conversation with a friend, some time at the Denver Art Museum (shameless pitch, I know) but sometimes, it will be through less desirable means. And ultimately we end up back where we started, with ourselves.

Nouwen's approach to loneliness, community and solitude is striking. He discussion centers around the differences between a lonely place and solitude. It seems that often times we are looking for something from our friends, our spouse or significant others that they cannot provide, even if it's under the guise of church. Instead, if we enter into solitude as a place not only to reveal our relationships to each other but our relationship with God.

Verses to Study and Pray about:
Mark 1:35
Mark 14:32-39
Psalm 42

Welcome & Rules of Engagement

Lets be honest, everyone likes blogging. Well, I personally hate it - but I'm trying to foster an appreciation for it that will last a lifetime. Either way, I want to welcome you to "Live in Denver." Live in Denver is the unofficial blog of Celebration Community Church Twenty-somethings, really a place where we can debate finer theological points or muse about things or tell life stories. Hence the name; "Live" is in terms of "to live life" and "live" as in "it's happening live"; because that is how life is...

Sometimes we'll post upcoming events or reviews of movies or anything really associated with living life live in Denver - so check back regularly.

So come and share your comments and questions, and I'll try to keep up. Remember, the blog is moderated, so you have to (a) become a member to post (since it is the thoughts of a very specific subset of society) and (b) we want to keep the comments clean and always respectful - so no attackin your friend's theological convictions... or... personal character. We reserve the right to remove any inflammatory or inappropriate comments.