What is solitude?
2. Why do we not experience solitude? 3. Why must we experience solitude? There’s an old Jewish joke/parable that begins with an old rabbi who stands in front of his congregation and looking down mutters, “I am nothing. I am nothing.” A few minutes later a deacon stands up and starts muttering, “I am nothing. I am nothing.” Then a janitor stands up and begins muttering, “I am nothing. I am nothing.” When the old rabbi and deacon hear this, they turn towards the janitor and say with indignation, “Who do you think you are to say that you are nothing?!” The relevance of this parable will hopefully become more apparent by the end of this message. 1. What is solitude? Let us begin with what solitude is not. It is not an escape from the daily stresses of life. It is not taking a break. It is not peace and quiet. According to the two passages above, Jesus went to a solitary place, a lonely place. The connotation of a lonely place is negative. Even today solitary confinement is considered to b
