The Value of WaitingSample

Fortress of Solitude

Every good superhero, such as Superman, has his Fortress of Solitude. 

Batman has his Batcave. 

Iron Man has his Stark Tower. 

For us, as faith superheroes, the same tool is necessary. We need a safe place to retreat, pray and recharge—a place to reconnect to the Source of our strength. We are often in a flurry of activity, working hard to prove our worth and validate our ability. Solitude is an invitation to wait, to discover the true Source of our strength and the reality that we are finite and cannot do everything all the time.

Solitude is an asset because it allows us the opportunity to catch our breath. It enables us to contemplate and re-calibrate our perspective to ensure that we are stewarding our gifts and opportunities.

Just like any son with his father, Jesus retreated. He went away by himself to pray. He knew that He needed to connect Himself to God, to wait patiently before the Lord, away from noise, expectations, and responsibilities. 

If we want to transcend our circumstances, we need to be willing and able to step away from them from time to time. Into a safe place. A chalice for the soul. A fortress of solitude. In the era of social media, perhaps one of the most important things we can do is unplug. To “send the crowds away.” To stop engaging with what all the people surrounding us think and to focus on what our Creator thinks. 

Jesus’ life is our model. He is the faith superhero. He leads us, gives us permission, and provides the examples of how to unplug, how to send the crowds away. Faith superheroes lean into their need to reconnect with the Heavenly Father. Jesus teaches us to make focused waiting a regular rhythm of our lives.

Today, find your fortress of solitude and spend time with your Heavenly Father.