We live busy lives. As a young person growing up in modern America it is almost impossible to avoid the hustle and bustle that comes along with everyday life. Somewhere between school, work, relationships and recreation it is easy to get caught up in the world. However, when we take a step back from our busy lives and separate ourselves a little from society, it’s amazing what we can discover.
Matthew West, a Christian songwriter whose work I enjoy is one that has illustrated this process. For his upcoming album he decided to escape the world, and go to live in a cabin, alone, for a few months writing songs to the glory of God. He shares with us some of his experiences in a blog written during these months. One thing Matthew noted about his stay in the wilderness was how much easier it was to be close to God. He said that his life in the cabin was an “intensive, daily opportunity” for him to follow through with the longing for a closeness to God.
Wild at Heart by John Eldredge is a book that immediately came to mind when I thought about this topic. For those of you who haven’t read this book, you can classify it as one of those “finding yourself” books. John tells his readers about many of his wanderings in the wilderness, both literal and not. He says that his time in the wilderness was the time he felt closest to God, the times he felt most at peace. He even goes as far as to say that God communicates with us best through His creation. Both of these instances point out that the best way to live involves living through the simplicity of life. As Ecclesiastes suggests, there is nothing more to life that to live happily and enjoy our lives as long as we can (Ecclesiastes 3:12) If this means giving up the world so I can be at peace with my life and maybe even find a little meaning to it along it way; I’m all in.
-Phil Giddings
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