
The ruins of Aksum are impressive from the outside, but there’s much more to see if you find your way inside. It’s got underground tunnels and chambers that were used for various purposes, one of those being solitude and prayer. We Christians have found solitude in many ways. Going out into the deserts. Going underground in natural or manmade caves. Going up to elevated platforms and praying. Personally, I prefer sitting on the beach when it isn’t crowded.
Christianity in general needs more solitude and prayer. Our world is too noisy. Wherever you go, some kind of noise is there. Music. Arguing. Tik Tok videos. Sports broadcasts. Superficial conversation. Aksum is a reminder that sometimes we need to get away from all the noise and just be alone with ourselves and God. If you do this, two things will start to happen.
First, if you isolate yourself completely, meaning no phones, books, or any other distraction, you will quickly become uncomfortable. All the negative things that you’re suppressing and being distracted from will quickly rise to the surface. This is not a pleasant experience. You will quickly want your distractions back. However, in time, you’ll become comfortable with those thoughts and feelings welling up. Comfortable might be overstating it.
Secondly, over time, you’ll become more sensitive to the presence of God. As the outside world of distractions is eliminated, the voice of God becomes easier to hear. The ancient monks understood this and have much to teach us about solitude. If we’re wise, we’ll learn what we can from them and prepare ourselves for looking past the distractions that serve as walls to protect us from our own depths. I think we all need this kind of experience occasionally so we can go deeper in our spirituality.