What solitude accomplishes

We've been discussing the great need in our world today to combat busyness and hurry through the spiritual discipline of solitude. So, what does solitude accomplish? While this is by no means exhaustive, when I go into solitude with the Spirit leading me here's what it has taught me:

I am NOT the sum of my relationships or achievements.

Henri Noewen writes, “We remove our scaffolding in solitude”. That is, I no longer allow the things of this world to “prop” me up giving me a distorted view of who I really am. In solitude, I let everything down. I go into a quiet place with nothing other than, well, . . .ME. And, in doing so, I am reminded I am God’s child, not by way of merit, popularity or charm, but because I am his created work. Because Jesus accepts even me. I learn as I still my soul, to differentiate myself from my achievements. I am liberated from the notion that we are the sum of my to-do lists and the sum of my relationships. I embrace the ME that Jesus has already embraced. And, on most days, that's not easy. But it is freeing. And, solitude will impress this kind of freedom upon you.