A Fortress of Solitude

 

In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. And when he came up out of the water, immediately he saw the heavens being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.” The Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness. And he was in the wilderness forty days, being tempted by Satan. And he was with the wild animals, and the angels were ministering to him. (Mark 1:9-13 ESV).

 

If you have read any of the DC comics, or watched any of the dozens of television and feature films, you are familiar with one of the most famous superheroes, Superman. You may remember that “The Fortress of Solitude” is a home base for Superman and by extension, other heroes in the Superman family. It is usually located in the one of the poles and uses serves as a place to store weapons and machinery from his home planet of Krypton. Through the years it has been enlarged to include special quarters for some of the more dominant Kryptonians, such as Supergirl. This is the place Superman can retreat to from the “noise” of the world. It is also a place where he can receive highly technically developed interaction from his Kryptonian father. It is his source of wisdom and peace.

 

While most people would see me as an extrovert, I’m really a person who enjoys solitude. I like to spend time in my shop, or in the outdoors hunting and fishing. There are those times when I’m in the shop that Mary will look in on me just to make sure everything is OK since it has been so long since I’ve been out there alone. Of course I like spending time with people as well, but there is something about being alone that gives me great strength. It is my “fortress of solitude.”

 

Jesus often spent time alone. Our reading tells us that at the beginning start of his ministry, he spent 40 days alone in the wilderness. He no doubt spent a lot of it praying, fasting, and being energized for his mission by his Father in heaven. This was a vitally important time for Jesus’ preparation to do the work he had come to do. Likewise, we need time alone with God. When we are alone with God, spending time talking to him and listening for direction through his Word, we are being prepared for our mission here on earth. Our faith is formed as we seek God’s guidance and wisdom. But in the busyness of life often the first thing we skip is time with God. Schedules get in the way, and time passes. We’d like to spend more time with God, but we can’t seem to fit it in.

I hope you will be encouraged to find your place of solitude.