Solitude is a place of encounter, where we confront the reality of who we are before God. There are so many voices, including our own false selves, that we use to curate who we are. But in solitude, we encounter our true selves — created and loved by God. And we are free to bring all of our selves before God for healing, prayer, and reflection.  In episode 2 of the Solitude season, John Mark Comer and Bryan Rouanzoin interview Bethany Allen. Bethany Allen is the pastor of spiritual formation and leadership development at Bridgetown Church in downtown Portland. She has a deep passion to see women defined by who they were created to be: image-bearers of God. Compelled by her affection for the Scriptures and her desire to be an effective learner in order to be an effective teacher, Bethany works hard counseling women, developing curriculum, and planning alongside Bridgetown’s pastoral team. A southern belle by birth, Bethany moved to the Pacific Northwest in 2007. She earned a Master of Arts in Specialized Ministry with a focus in Pastoral Care to Women from Western Seminary in 2011. This podcast accompanies the Solitude Practice, developed by Practicing the Way. Thanks to the generosity of The Circle, all our resources are free. To learn more about The Circle or to run a Practice with your church, community, or small group, visit practicingtheway.org.