"In giving service to others, we can become very lonely," writes Donna E. Schaper, a United Church of Christ Area Minister in Massachusetts. "In caring for ourselves and others, we can find solitude." In this short but salutary work, she explores the bounties that can flow out of a spirituality of solitude. Jesus found sustenance and renewal in his retreats from others, and so can we.

Solitude is especially important as a divine milieu that enables us to cultivate a reflective interior life. It can also be a private space where we learn how to befriend our suffering. Jesus used solitude as a time for prayer. Schaper believes this sacred time can re-charge us so that we can serve others in the community of love. The ultimate loneliness arises when we are frightened or when we have lost our memory. Solitude is the antidote to both.

This paperback is tailor-made for service providers, those carrying far too many burdens. Schaper sees things clearly and yet is able to note: "Instead of absolute clarity, we sometimes have to settle for 'haze.' We can learn to love it. Haze has its own benefits. It keeps us clear about our incompleteness and our need for God."