A hide away in a little slice of eastern NC! Often times a scene in the wild of trees, bushes and brambles have a way of speaking volumes in it’s silence and solitude. It brings out the “wild child” of nature within to remind us roots, family and friends has deep beauty but often times rough edges, harsh words, sickness and death marks and scars the soul. Tears flow! Laughter sings! Hearts mend! Peace, love and joy have a way to resurface in the nature and beauty from land that marks the old landmarks and stories shared from the lives of babies, parents, soldiers, slaves and diverse cultures alike. Aweee, such beauty to remind us, “God is always there!”
thedailylily.com 
“Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.”
—Luke 5:16 (NIV)
It seems Jesus lived out his earth life in solitude, community, and ministry. Wonder why he left this example for us to follow? Wonder why he chose solitude?
The footnotes for Luke 5:16 says: (NIV) “People were flocking to hear Jesus preach and to have their diseases healed, but Jesus made sure he often withdrew to quiet, solitary places to pray. Many things clamor for our attention, and we often run ourselves ragged attending to them. Like Jesus, however, we should take time to withdraw to a quiet and deserted place to pray. Strength comes from God, and we can only be strengthened by spending time with him.“ The picture above sure does seem to invite one, to be present in that beautiful solitary place. 🌷🌳☘️🌸🌻🌞🪴🌳🍄☀️
“Just ask the animals, and they will teach you. Ask the birds of the sky, and they will tell you. Speak to the earth, and it will instruct you. Let the fish in the sea speak to you. For they all know that my disaster has come from the hand of the Lord. For the life of every living thing is in his hand, and the breath of every human being.”
Job 12:7-10 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/job.12.7-10.NLT
Sara, the photo and your words to describe it brings “nature and beauty” right into my heart to warm and bring peace, love and joy. Thank you. And thank you for the reminders of how so many lives and stories intertwine to add to the richness of this scene.
You stated and then asked, “It seems Jesus lived out his earth life in solitude, community, and ministry. Wonder why he left this example for us to follow? Wonder why he chose solitude?”
He must know these are all important not just for ourselves but for those we interact with.
Why solitude? I think you gave us the answer from, “Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.”
I appreciate times of solitude, especially outside in nature…to pray, be still, observe and listen… I think that is what Job 12:7-10 NLT that you wrote was telling us to do.
There’s something special about nature and gardens. That’s where Adam and Eve began their lives, so we must have some of that passion and longing to be in one in our genes. Sara, you have a plaque that I love and has always spoken volumes to me and probably many others that says, “The kiss of the sun for pardon, The song of the birds for mirth, One is nearer God’s Heart in a garden Than anywhere else on earth.”
Thinking about silence and solitude and what you wrote, Sara, in the blog brought back a line from a hymn so many have sung and loved … “in the stillness of the midnight”… That hymn was Precious Memories.
“Precious mem’ries, unseen angels,
Sent from somewhere to my soul;
How they linger, ever near me,
And the sacred past unfold.
Refrain:
Precious mem’ries, how they linger,
How they ever flood my soul;
In the stillness of the midnight,
Precious, sacred scenes unfold.
2 Precious father, loving mother,
Fly across the lonely years;
And old home scenes of my childhood,
In fond memory appear. [Refrain]
3 As I travel on life’s pathway,
Know not what the years may hold;
As I ponder, hope grows fonder,
Precious mem’ries flood my soul. [Refrain]”