[alone] vs. [together]
How much of your faith is forged alone? How much of it is formed together?
Surely, our faith is shaped in the presence of others. Undoubtedly.
Arthur Brooks recently noted that the best way for children to adopt your faith is not by hearing you talk about it, but by seeing you live it. Faith is caught more than taught. Caught together.
For many, faith begins at home. Perhaps your parents’ faith became the blueprint for your own. [together] Or perhaps it was something you had to consciously step away from and reconsider on your own terms. Even so, it’s still a navigational beacon.
The church has long been a powerful place to nurture faith. [together] For me, it's been nothing short of amazing. Through the church, I found friends, community, scripture, purpose—and even a spouse. :)
But faith isn’t only formed in crowds. [together]
Luke 5 tells us, “But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.” Even Jesus didn’t receive every spiritual vitamin in community. He regularly disappeared to pray alone. “Often.”
In Matthew 26, Jesus brought his friends with him to Gethsemane—but ultimately, he went alone.
Then he said to them, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.” Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.” When he returned, he found them sleeping. “Couldn’t you men keep watch with me for one hour?” he asked Peter. …He went away a second time and prayed… …He came back, found them sleeping again… …So he left them and went away once more and prayed the third time.
There are spiritual lessons we only learn in community—in a life group, a Bible study, or a circle of trusted friends. No doubt about it.
But part of faith is forged in solitude. And if you aren’t aware of this practice—if you’re not prepared for it—you might miss it. Or worse, resist it. Yet it is an essential spiritual vitamin—one you’ll eventually need.
So what does it mean when your child sees their father alone with God? It may look like solitude, but it's a [together] moment too. They are with you, even in your solitude. And that image—of their dad praying alone—might become one of the most powerful spiritual lessons they ever receive.
Maybe it’s not 50/50. Maybe it’s 70 percent [together] and 30 percent [alone]. But even 30 percent shouldn’t be neglected.
https://unsplash.com/photos/man-walking-on-road-surrounded-by-bare-trees-wLEI1OuVGFA
https://unsplash.com/photos/a-person-standing-on-top-of-a-sand-dune-gVDUuJaG_wM
https://unsplash.com/photos/silhouette-of-man-looking-star-during-sunset-9b5dvrjb05g