Solo Sojourn

On By K.L. HaleIn nature, faith,, Uncategorized

Why not alone? If you could do ONE thing, TODAY, no limitations, no restrictions, and all alone, what would it be? Oh, I’m not asking you to shirk your responsibilities.

Don’t let fear and the panic of paranoia pause your passion.

Years of taking care and a daily routine ~have you ever been alone? You’re twisted in the tornado of your own territory. You forget who you are trying to be the ONE thing for everyone else.

You spent years as a caregiver and still have much to give. You have a purpose. And if staying in your own home and doing nothing is your dream, do it. But do something alone. At least once. Be prepared and positioned. You can be breakable, but still bold. Faith and fear are oil and water.

Circumstances in your current reality might cancel your capabilities. Yet, you can take steps. Don’t you dream? A meal to yourself? A walk? A place where it’s quiet? A place to listen? Cancel the noise. One day, and maybe not of choice, you might be alone.

You’ll find strength. Stop. Still your body, heart, and mind, a power unknown to man, will punctuate HIS promises!

I’ll not forget my solo journey(s). Miles and miles of open road. Just me, Finley, and the GPS of God. It was peaceful. I could stop when I wanted {every historical sign}, stay where I wanted, and soak in every moment. My sons and their families at the end of all these miles kept my gas-tank and grit completely full. Oh, the places we can all go. I’m far from done of the Open Roads.

Your journey is your own. It’s a significant sojourn~for this is not our eternal home. ❤️

The open road unfastens my soul. The beauty in the journey makes me whole.

K.L. Hale

Have faith🤍

54 thoughts on “Solo Sojourn”

  2. I agree with quiall, I love to be alone for uninterrupted chatter with the Lord. To have Him is to never truly be alone. But if I were to do something else without anyone else… oh geez, I don’t even care! A solo moment is so rare for me that I’d take one just to clean the house. But a trip to the beach would be amazing, if I had a whole quiet weekend!

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  3. atimetoshare.me

    We have such reassurance knowing we are never alone when we have God in our lives. His constant protection gives us hope for the future. His presence makes Him so accessible whenever we need Him. His wisdom and knowlege are far superior to anything we can do alone. What a blessing we have to be able to communicate directly with Him. Have fun with those grand babies.

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  4. As a woman I harbor a small persistent fear that I’ll out live my husband. That aloneness is one I have to prepare for (though I am not anxious to get to that point). To that end I have over the years cultivated hobbies that I do alone and independently from the family. Travel is one thing that I prefer to do in a group… Fortunately for me the opportunity to travel, with my husband or with my BFF is always an option. Recently the new Priest has organized travel to Rome, Italy and to The Holy Land of Israel, so that is also a very real possibility. Of course there is never a time when I feel that God has abandoned me – I walk hand in hand with the Holy Spirit…

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    1. Thank you so much for your beautiful and thoughtful response. That’s wonderful you have hobbies. Travel partners are wonderful. In my notes I have an itinerary for a trip to Jerusalem as well. One day I pray. Italy is definitely on my list. I may not make it, but oh, it’s fun researching and dreaming. I use Google Earth to travel a LOT! I love it. It’s feels good to have companionship with our Creator.

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  5. Loved this post! I have to have some alone time. I need time in silence to listen to God instead of talking to him. However, the last year has given me more than enough alone time. Now I am truly more alone that I have ever been with my husband gone. I will still need the silent times but I also need to be around people. Hopefully that will happen soon.

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    1. I thought of you my friend as I wrote this. I know several widows; and some in my family. Thank you for your kind words. If you lived closer I’d spend time with you. I could have a cup of coffee with you and you can share all you need. ♥️💛☕️

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  6. Vicki

    I relish my alone time just God & me His “mostly” gentle corrections & His constant need to remind me that you can’t truly forgive if you don’t forget! I have recently been given alone walking time as puppy Jubal E has decided one long walk a day is enough for her which I’m ok with as i need that. People are sometimes scared to be alone almost “afraid” of their own company! Gives time for reflection & accountability to oneself I’ve found! As always thought provoking post! Love you dear friend! 🍵💞💖💕😃

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    1. Aw, love you too Vicki. You’re an overcomer and it shows in your wise words. I know another friend who has walked about as much as you. It would be my goal to keep up like that when I’m in my 60’s and 70’s. If my left hip knee go, I’ll just put in new ones. 🤷🏼‍♀️ thank you always for your support. Now tell me about that new puppy, Jubal E (love the name). 🐶💕

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      1. Vicki

        She’s a giant schnauzer we got on December 20th at 6 weeks old. She is now almost 7 months old& weighs 75 lbs! Her momma weighed 100 & daddy weighed 130 so she’s going to be a very big girl. She is full of puppy energy & incredibly smart definitely have my personal trainer back! We walk alot together but when hot being a pure black dog by afternoon she willing to just let me finish my miles alone but all wiggles & needing my attention when i get back! She is definitely a joy to both Larry & me! How are you doing physically you have overcome so very much! Take time to take care of Karla dear friend!

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  7. This is one of my two favorite songs. I love it. As for solitude? Sometimes I think I’ve mastered that but I keep learning more about it. There are many many many experiences that are better in solitude. Companionship changes the experience into an experience with a person. It’s good, but different. My mom was my model. She didn’t do half the stuff she wanted because she had to be alone. I thought, “Wow. You’d rather moan about being alone than go do this thing?” It never made any sense to me. People talk about the danger of doing things alone, but sometimes the danger is in missing out on an experience out of the fear of solitude. People are complicated (news flash 😉 ) ❤

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    1. I could listen to this song everyday…and hum it…and sing it.🤍 It evokes so much in my heart about my time here on Earth and my relationship with all of God’s creations. I appreciate your response and understand it well. You have lived such an incredible life and the wisdom from your words is taken to heart. I still think I sat in your class sometime and we had these amazing discussions with other classmates. Do you remember how you inspired us? 😉 I can remember doing some personality test (how many did we do each year at school? oh my!) at an administrative training. There were basically four corners you could stand in; think about my INFJ traits. I could fit in every corner. God creates us all so unique. I love it. And if you can’t achieve it alone, at times, I think the loneliness is more dangerous. Another side-effect of Covid was fear. And people became quite comfortable staying indoors. As if you couldn’t dream anymore. For me, it’s just financially getting myself squared away from establishing a home. I’m getting there. It’s nearly all furnished, although there are still projects that will never end. It will take me a bit to build back up what I had to get in here. But I will do it. I have grandbabies to visit; and sites to see. I’ve had many great adventures right here at home with family. Family will always be #1. But that makes me no less of a dreamer, caregiver, doer, or my deepest desire to “paint with all the colors of the wind”. 💚🤍❤💚🐶 hugs to you, Bear, and Teddy from me and Finley

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  8. Good afternoon, dear sister, “faith and fear are like oil and water”, Thank you for His wisdom here. Alone used to weigh on me. My first book is about hope in lonely places. Yet, now alone is a gift, a peace-full abiding in Him. I long for more of it. This season upon us Dibbles: health, puppy, seminary, and a police officer who is weary. Sometimes it just takes a couple of alone moments, but your highway with Finn and God’s GPS sounds amazing too. Have a blessed weekend, dear Karla.

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    1. Julie, you are accomplishing so much (even in your precious family group), alone. You’ve completely relied on the strength of our Maker as you juggle it all and daily, give the credit to God for your juggling abilities. And more than that; your writing, your books, your children, your worn-out husband, and now, a rescue pup. I’m on your side and I know whose side we both stand. I stand with you! Have a blessed weekend, too. Hopefully Rocko will feel as worn-out too! 🤍

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  9. As a child I lived out in the bush and I spent all of that time just wandering along creeks, through forests and the countryside. It was always different, even on the same path. And it gave me an appreciation of what was there and those special times where you would bump into something rarely seen, like a couple of platypus’s feeding along the banks of a creek or a Powerful Owl going home late. It must be similar for you to turn each corner Karla and find another amazing sight as you cruise along the road. Enjoy that childhood in your heart 😀 ❤️ 🙏🏽 🦋

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    1. The corners I love the most turn into my kids’ homes. But on my post, there’s a corner I’m getting ready to turn and I see the Presidents’ faces on Mt. Rushmore. I get excited as I drive this route because it’s so awe-inspiring (and I wonder what they’d think today…hmmm.). I love our beautiful country. Your childhood and country sounds wonderful too. Thank you! 🤍

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  10. jpayne98

    I’m so happy for the traveling you have done. And the journey with Finley and gods gps sounds amazing. I’m so excited for you getting the grand babies to visit your new home. 👩‍❤️‍👨❤️🤟🏼🙏

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    1. Thank you so much sweetheart. It was amazing. And the trips can still happen. But that, coupled with living tiny, brought me closer to God. I can’t wait until they visit and you get to see them too! Finn and I love you! 💚❤🤍🐶

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    1. What a kind comment, John. Thank you. That’s what I strive to do. Keep telling your stories, John. They inspire me and make me giggle. My mom and sisters would get a kick out of them (Mom–a fellow PK).

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  12. Wow, thanks for sharing this. This “hit home” with me and I wasn’t really expecting that. I feel rather imprisoned now by too much work and not enough play, over a year of intense enforced time together with people I love but am completely sick of — hahaha– and that includes being mostly sort of sick of myself in a way. I used to be alone every early morning running until last year I couldn’t — maybe again but not now — so this piece is inspiring. I would love to take off on the open road and just drive, what a brave beautiful woman you are to have done so. It is a spiritual discipline, your idea of solitude — not just being alone or lonely– but choosing to be with one’s self with a quieted mind and heart. Thanks for the kind nudge to find a way, even a small little path to forge alone. Shalom, Jane

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    1. Jane,…I started this piece, with many different titles, when I first began my site in January 2020. It was a sense of abandonment that made me feel the desire to go alone. My parents would tell you I don’t have the fear of it (flew to Mexico with a friend barely out of H.S., to Egypt alone in 2002, etc…). But at home I felt I had to be what everyone desired (married, taking care of others, etc. And a major health scare, that had limited some immediate things, did not impact on whether or not I could drive a car from A to B. It just impacted where I put my keys. LOL!! And I know my “good hours”. And now,…I know my “good life”. ALL because of God. Listening to him and not bouncing around doing what I thought was the right thing to only doing what I thought to try and salvage it. And then doing the wrong things because everything is wrong. If God is not at the center it will fail. I’ve been in groups, and in relationships, that were way more lonelier than being by myself. I think when you quiet your mind and heart (which my health needs it anyway-don’t we all?) you can hear the hums of heavenly help. He says “YOU’RE ENOUGH!” No one is “better” just because they can be alone; and no one is “better” because they can’t. It’s between you and HIM. And at the end, that’s all that will be. So we might as well soak up what we can, alone or in groups, with our limited time passing through. If you ever come through Missouri, pick me up. Peace to you my friend! Thank you for encouraging me too. 🤍

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  15. You always give me so much to think about Karla, spending time alone is appealing to me, and I take advantage whenever possible. It’s amazing what I hear when the general noise and bustle of life fade into the background. Makes me realize what I miss when life gets busy. Great post, C

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    1. I love “I fully come to my inner peace…”quiet, calmness”. It’s a beautiful way to not just survive, but to truly live. Thank you for your beautiful response my friend. 💚

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  21. Your closing words say it best…. Have faith. If we all inscribed this on our hearts every minute alone would indeed be well spent. Hugs to you for encouraging the dreams that lie within each one of us. 💕

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    1. Dawn, hugs back to you and thank you for being a light when things can start to dim. Don’t stop whining. You have a gift of encouragement that is so needed in this world. I’m blessed to be on that receiving end. Hugs and love ❤️ 🤗

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  23. “The open road unfastens my soul. The beauty in the journey makes me whole.” I love this line of yours. What is stopping us right now? Can we ask God for direction and the courage to take the next step?

    Thank you so much for sharing this. That line alone was worth stopping by to read. 💛🙏

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