The CROSSroads: Personal Lessons from Mark's Gospel by Rev. Mitch Schultz

Updated
2001-05-26; 14:34:27utc

Lesson Nine: I NEED A BREAK (Mark 1:35-39)

"Jesus got up and left the house." (vs.35)

May I pry open a window to my parental heart for a moment and allow you to view something that that builds up tension in my life as a father? I am at a time in my life where many of the responsibilities of parenting have fallen on my shoulders as my wife recovers from a major brain operation. Now please understand that what I am about to share is meant in good humour about my children so whatever you do, don't take me too seriously. Here we go then. I want to share with you seven things children do that drive me crazy. I think, if you are a parent, you will relate.

Tugging at my shirt as we walk in the store. (Always on one side only so as to make that side longer than the other.)
Telling me something while I am on the phone with someone else and expecting an immediate response.
Always waiting till I am in the bathroom before deciding they need something from me.
Asking for a drink of water after they have been tucked into bed.
Opening my zipper as I am standing talking to someone.
Running circles around me as I am speaking to someone while still holding on to that same side of my shirt.
Placing balloons only in places where I am sure to walk.

I share these things with you simply to emphasis how important it is to find time with God away from all other distractions. I am speaking here about the importance of solitude, and I draw this simple point from the passage we are looking at. If Jesus needed to get away from his disciples to be alone with God, then certainly we need moments when we need to place some distance between ourselves and those others who absorb most of our time. This is not selfishness but rather prudence, for there is no other way for God to be heard than to make ourselves completely available to him and no one else. Notice Jesus "got up" early and "left the house" and "went off to a solitary place". Was this really necessary? Could he not have enjoyed a moment with God while still accessible to his disciples? Our Lord knew the value of being alone with God and he took the necessary steps to assure that nothing came in the way of this precious moment. You see, the only way we can make ourselves fully available to God is when we are not available to others. Jesus needed a break from his disciples. He needed solitude where he could speak with his father without his disciples tugging at his shirt. So by the time the disciples did find him, he was already off the phone and ready to work.

What steps are necessary for you to take in order to be fully available to God?

Shall we not shut the door against earthly noise and find that, once the noise is gone, God will roar all about us? It's the silent communion of the closet that best declares his reality.

-Calvin Miller

Alone with God! It is there that what is hid with God is made known—God's ideals, God's hopes, God's doings. -Oswald Chambers (1874–1917)