I am wired from birth to be an introvert—don’t feel overly sorry for me, as introversion has advantages.
As the title of a recent book proclaims, the real me lives in a quiet space among a world that can’t stop talking. Often my daughter exclaims in great disbelief as I make a discovery of the obvious, “Dad, you live under a rock, what to you is new treasure has existed forever.”
Yes, I am guilty. I live under a rock in my own reflective world. There are downsides to this. I will never be the life of the party. In fact, I if I had my preference, I would not be at the party. It is much more comfortable to reflect and explore under my proverbial rock.
OK, I will admit there is a little room for friends under a rock. Like the sand crab finding its way from his dark and moist home in the sand and digging upward to receive sun and air, I do see the benefits of emerging from under my rock.
How tragic it would be to find growth limited from just remaining with me, myself, and I, under the rock. God uses my above ground interaction with others to make me into a person fit for the garden.
When in the sunshine I meet wonderful people. I can list hundreds of names of those who helped me grow more like Jesus over the past sixty-five years. An idea here, a thought there, a word of encouragement, a recommendation of a good book, an example of a person who is ahead of me in their walk with Jesus, are benefits I cannot receive under the rock.
However, I don’t want to sell short my life under a rock. Reflection is also a gift from God. It helps me distance myself from the notes of the cultural flute.
Life under a rock provides three benefits:
- First, my reflective time keeps my focus on the important. The 21st century menu has no limit to attractive choices. The ease of buying into fluff is effortless as the click of a mouse. I want my choices to be the selections God wants for me. Reflective time under the rock helps me to live life focused on the important.
- Second, life under a rock affords a place for repentance. There is a scary consistency in the number of times Satan trips me up. Life under a rock provides the solitude for repentance and a place to plead to God for His strength to move forward in an attempt to align myself more closely to His desire for me.
- Third, life under the rock offers me a place to reflect on how best to use gifts assigned me by God. One way God works in this world is through gift-sets he wires into each of followers. He super charges those gifts when he sends his spirit to dwell inside of his creation at the time of the new birth.
Through the years, I believe three of my own gifts from God to be administration, creativity, and the gift of the written word. To use these gifts for a Kingdom purpose, I find I need time under the rock to think, plan, and pray.
Often through Scripture, the Rock is used as a metaphor for God. In the Book of Deuteronomy, God’s leader Moses recites a song written by God. Throughout the song, God describes Himself as a rock. One verse of God’s Song sings out: He is the Rock, his works are perfect, and all his ways are just. A faithful God who does no wrong, upright and just is he. – Deuteronomy 32:4
I want to live my life under the right rock.
What are your reflections? Stay tuned.-Gary Sorrells
God Reflection 
Good morning Gary,
It is great to be under a rock for those reasons you mentioned. I have recently made a commitment, because of a very busy summer to have a morning date with The Lord.
I had planned to read your page everyday, but I have found that with prayer alone sometimes my time is up leaving me wanting for more.
But I must confess that I do not like being alone that much until I found out why. I must in my solitude confront my real me, and confess to my Father my wrong and ask him for strength, and beg him to use me for his purpose.
I don’t want to miss anything he does. But that also means for me that I must be under a rock to be still and know that He is God.
Thank you for sharing.
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Carlos,
I suspect if we will only be patient and let Jesus do his work on us, we will become more loving to ourselves when under the rock and more loving to others when we emerge into the sunlight.
Gary
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Gary,
Well said, as usual. And speaking of people who suggest good books…I finally finished the book you mentioned here and thought it was wonderful (of course!). I wish I had had it in hand during my own children’s natural introverted natures clashed so with the “Extroverted Ideal” of our world! Would have been helpful; but at least I can pass it on to them.
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