IT'S FLOAT TIME

Solitude by Frederic Leighton

Wikipedia says Solitude is a state of seclusion or isolation, i.e., lack of contact with people. It may stem from bad relationships, deliberate choice, infectious disease, mental disorders, neurological disorders or circumstances of employment or situation (see castaway).

Heaven forbid!  That’s not exactly what I had in mind, out of all those possibilities; I choose deliberate choice with a positive outcome.

Today I experienced five glorious minutes of solitude, while surrounded by a group of others, also in some sort of solitude.  My companions were fellow muscle stretchers in the pool.  After the routine of exercises to strengthen and stretch my knotted up spine, we are informed that “It’s Float Time!”  Grab a noodle and float.  No swimming or talking (but a few were whispering so in my point of view, that doesn’t count as solitude).

One of my favorite authors, Richard J. Foster quotes:  “In contemporary society our Adversary majors in three things: noise, hurry, and crowds.”  That’s me.

Today I choose solitude for pleasure, to hear direction, and for strengthening my resolve in an ever-busier life.  It’s not an emptying of self but instead a quieting of self so that I can be refilled with truth and things that matter.

What an unexpected gift in a busy day.  I know I could award myself “float time” anytime, but today the instructor takes me by surprise; sort of like an unexpected present.  And so…….I float.  Eyes closed.  Pool door open so I can hear birds sing and my neighbor’s little sigh of heaven.

A man prayed, and at first he thought that prayer was talking. But he became more quiet until in the end he realized that prayer is listening.  -Soren Kierkegaard