Cavetime: Time alone, in solitude.

Notice it’s solitude and not in loneliness. Many people equate being alone as a sign that you’re lonely. But I enjoy being alone - it allows you to muse, to think, to savour, to enjoy, to be fully present without distractions. For me this is done by going out alone, maybe to go for mass, to shop, to run errands. But there’s a paradox, you’re fully present but not really present at the same time. You are fully present to yourself and your own thoughts, but not so much to the others around you; they flitter and walk past without you needing to be concerned about them. That’s the beauty of cavetime, it allows us to achieve that interior silence and awareness that so many of us lack.

I attribute the word “cavetime” to Posef. So there, I’m not infringing any copyright/trademark you lawyer. Haha.

And it’s in my first cavetime since exams ended that I write this post. It was rather poignant that I decided to start off my holidays by going for confession at Novena Church. It feels like a mini-pilgrimage every time I go there you know? Having to travel a substantial distance (compared to SFX) , to battle the hot sun while walking there (mass is at 12.15pm) and to endure the stuffiness when I’m actually in the church (no aircon!).  Oh and it’s really funny how the priest always says something during the homily which seems like it’s related to what I said in the confessional. I like to think that the homily was inspired (somewhat) by my sins, haha. He also talked about the joy of receiving Christ, especially since it’s Advent. I guess this is something that we all have to cultivate in our walk as Christians eh? It’s been a tiring past month, and I praise God for seeing me through.

So here’s a few questions for you: when was your last “cavetime”? when did you last feel like you were on a pilgrimage? Essentially 2 events which require us to have an interior peace and silence… important things in the hustle and bustle of life. It may be a good time to consider going for one soon (: