In the ’70s the group America had a song which started, “This is for all the lonely people/Thinking that life has passed them by.” Those two lines about sum it up for many: lonely people who think life has indeed passed them by.
I know people who feel alone. I know people who are in a crowd but feel alone. There are people who feel alone even though they are in the middle of a family celebration. Sure some of it can be depression, but some of it is just…to them…reality. Mistreated. Abused. Slighted. Put down. Trashed verbally. Feeling like an ugly duckling. They live with this feeling of “I don’t matter.”
But in Christ, no one is alone. No one stands by himself. No one is slighted. No one is let down. No one is trashed verbally. No one should feel they don’t matter. BECAUSE IN CHRIST WE ALL MATTER!! No one is ever alone. And I take seriously Tripp’s last statement: “(I need to) remind myself today that, as God’s child, no matter how many people have walked out of my life, fundamental aloneness is a thing of my past.”
“Father, thank you that I’m not alone. Thank you that I matter. Because I matter I am not slighted. I am not put down. I am not shunned. I am not laughed at. I am not given a disgusting grunt. No, on the contrary, I am Yours; I belong to you; and I matter. I am never alone. Because of that my life has meaning and life hasn’t passed me by (as the song says).”
Alone…
I have certainly felt alone. Much of what you describe is accurate Bill. Can be surrounded by a crowd, but feel entirely alone.
For me it was about withdrawing from those around me. Being physically present, but emotionally gone.
The sad part about this, is when it happens, I am sure I am not pleasant to be around. I am not engaging and honestly show a lack of concern.
This only makes the problem worse as the gap widens with the relationships. I know it was a state of mind for me, one that if I am not careful could return.
When I focus on not being alone… Having a relation with God, my Father… through Jesus… it changes my focus. Knowing the Spirit of God resides within me brings me comfort. Sure, I can withdraw there as well… and I have… But it is a relationship that will be there no matter how much I neglect it.
Thankful for a forgiving and patient Father that has promised never to leave me alone.
Praise God that we never walk alone! Blessings, Bill!
(Oh, and I love that song.) 🙂