Kate Rhoden continued our conversation on the practice of silence and solitude, guiding us through three key things we may encounter on this journey: ourselves, the enemy, and ultimately, the presence of God. Kate shared her own personal struggles and breakthroughs along the way. She invited us to lean into the discomfort and confront the fears that can surface in moments of stillness, all in pursuit of the deep rest and communion with God that silence brings.

Andy continued the conversation on the practice of solitude and silence by turning to the example of Jesus, who often withdrew to quiet, desolate places to pray and commune with the Father. The life of Jesus demonstrates the significance of stepping away from the noise and busyness of the world to connect with God in stillness. Andy encouraged us to intentionally carve out time and space to be alone with God, free from distractions, so we can encounter Him, reflect on our hearts and minds, and be transformed. Solitude is not an end in itself but a practice that prepares us to re-enter community with a deeper capacity to love and serve others.

Here are key take aways from this teaching:

1. Trellis – The practices and disciplines of following Jesus are like a trellis that we grow upon, rather than just floating through life. They provide structure and support for our spiritual formation.
2. Fidelity – Our fidelity through our practices becomes the container where love is birthed and grows in us for the sake of the world around us.
3. Eramos – This Greek word refers to the wilderness, quiet, desolate places that Jesus frequently withdrew to in order to pray and be with the Father. We have a deep human need for quiet and solitude and our entire society and culture is fighting against this. But over and over in the gospels, Jesus goes to his eramos just to be with the Father.
4. Community – the point of solitude is to be formed into the likeness of Christ, growing in love and compassion for ourselves and for the world around us. Solitude and silence are not meant to isolate us, but to prepare us to engage more fully and lovingly with our community. The two practices go hand-in-hand.
5. Practice – Find your eramos and start small with just 1-2 minutes of solitude per day. Consistency and presence in the moment are more important than duration.

Watch Kim's teaching as she emphasized how important it us to show love and compassion to people in need, drawing on the story of the Good Samaritan. She encouraged us to pause and think about who our neighbors are and how we could show them love through simple acts of kindness and hospitality.

Key Takeaways:

1. We are called to be witnesses of Christ in the world around us, just as the disciples were. This means having compassion and love for those in our community, not avoiding or ignoring them.
2. Jesus is the greatest example of compassion - he met people right where they were, loved them, and his presence changed their lives. We are called to do the same for our "neighbors", whoever that may be.
3. It can be challenging to have compassion and see the needs of others, as we often have our own struggles and put up blinders. But we need to be aware of this tendency and ask God to open our eyes.
4. The parable of the Good Samaritan teaches that our "neighbor" is anyone God brings across our path, even if they are different from us or we are uncomfortable. We are called to show them mercy and care.
5. Kim challenged us to practice hospitality and witness to our community this week - whether that's inviting someone for coffee, having a family over, or simply being aware and open to connecting with those God places in our path. This requires boldness, but God will provide you grace to walk it out.