Loneliness

Ever stop and think about loneliness? I mean really pause and think about it? Here are a couple thoughts:

First, loneliness is DANGEROUS. As experts point out, we are in danger of acts that lead to moral failure or relapse into addiction when we are hungry, angry, lonely or tired. Click here for a brief explanation of HALT.

But loneliness is also POSITIVE. Think back to a lonely time in your life. What did it look like? Well, for starters, you were probably alone, most likely with nothing to do. Joy in normal activities was low. There was a general sense of sadness.

Now, I can almost hear you: "But how can all this low joy and increased sadness be positive?"

All of these descriptions paint a picture of a person about to enter into a deeper walk with Christ. After all, isn't it the lowly and contrite heart God is after (check out Psalm 51.17)? Doesn't His power display itself in our weakness (check out 2 Corinthians 12.9)? When everything is going our way and we're the life of the party, how many of us depend on God with complete desperation, really?

The next time we are lonely (and we will get lonely), we have a choice. We can be dangerous or we can be dependent; driven to addiction or driven to God.

photo credit

WhadaYOUthink?

Why do we get lonely even when we are surrounded by people?

Comments

[Paula Salmon]

I just happened to stumble onto your blog. I like this, thanks. I just wrote about how I deal with loneliness myself, and it definitely became a growth stage for me! God Bless! www.flowingriver.typepad.com

[Scott Couchenour]

Thanks Paula. That's great that you could grow from the experience. In fact, every experience lays before us an opportunity to grow - if we're teachable and willing to learn.

I like your #3 - Give Yourself Permission To Feel Lonely. I've found it very helpful to stop fighting against painful situations. Instead, being mindful in them actually brings them to a close quicker and with richer results. Pain + Resistance = Suffering. http://servingstrong.typepad.com/main/2009/07/mindfulness-and-pain.html