The Lonely

I resonated when a friend wrote on Facebook yesterday that she was lonely, and a bit worried about an upcoming test. She knew it wasn’t the biggest thing in the world but saying it out loud makes it more manageable.

I resonated because I was a bit on the low side as well. As I sat in a funk, I tried to parse out what was making up my blue mood. Yes, I was tired. Yes, the candidate I really wanted to be elected as a bishop was not elected. I could limn it out but it was not helping me shake it off. I wanted to talk to someone, but as soon as I thought about talking to certain persons, I knew I would start to cry. I did not want to have to explain, or really I did not want them to feel that I was asking them to make it all better. I ended up asking Max to go out to dinner somewhere we could walk. He knew I was feeling down but that was not the subject of our conversation. It helped me to own what I felt, and not isolate myself.

Just now in writing this, I see the connection with my sermon from last Sunday, where loneliness can come from feeling like an outsider, or it can make me feel like one. After all, who would want to listen to me? I can see that what I outlined in my sermon is what Max did. It helped.  

Take time – Sit with – Listen to – Open your heart to

Romans 12:15

Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.