Wednesday, December 21, 2005
Breaking Through Loneliness
The Constructive Curmudgeon had an interesting post on Christmas loneliness the other day.
But this I will say about all that time I spent alone all those years before marriage -- it was self-imposed. Oh, sometimes the invitations were sparse, but there was always something to do if I really wanted to. If I live in such isolation it is because I am putting me in front of everyone else.
Long ago, when I felt lonely, I learned to repeat this verse to myself.
Next time you are feeling lonely, don't wait for an invitation -- issue one.
The lonely are asked what their Christmas plans are. The reply is in so many words, "There are no special plans. We will just hunker down at home - alone, again; and wait for it to end."I have some sympathy with this bit lonelinessess -- I lived alone for 20 years before I was married. Sometimes my wife and I choose to spend holidays, though never Christmas, alone and hunkered down -- usually from exhaustion.
But this I will say about all that time I spent alone all those years before marriage -- it was self-imposed. Oh, sometimes the invitations were sparse, but there was always something to do if I really wanted to. If I live in such isolation it is because I am putting me in front of everyone else.
Long ago, when I felt lonely, I learned to repeat this verse to myself.
Phil 2:3 - Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind let each of you regard one another as more important than himself;The end to loneliness lies in the very idea of worrying about the other guy's loneliness more than my own -- because, trust me, there is someone more lonely than you out there.
Next time you are feeling lonely, don't wait for an invitation -- issue one.
