We live in a world where everyone is constantly talking. Everyone is constantly doing something or going somewhere. We’re all busy and we’re all loud, and people rarely take the time to slow down. I know I usually only slow down when I get sick (sometimes not even then). I either consider it extreme dedication or just simple insanity. I always have people around me, and the only time I don’t is when I go home. If my folks aren’t visiting, my house is empty when I return. Nobody at the door to say hello. No dinner made. No coffee brewing. But most of the time, it doesn’t bother me.
That’s usually the first thing people ask me when they find out that I live alone in the middle of nowhere. Don’t you get lonely? Don’t you get scared in that big house all by yourself?
Honestly, the answer changes on a daily basis, but more often than not, no. I don’t suffer from lonliness on a general basis. (Mostly becuase I get my fill of people during the day and long for a few hours of solitude!) I do have days, though, when I wish there were people out here.
The verse of the day got me thinking about being alone today and how it’s usually frowned upon in our society. In our world, being alone usually means that there’s something wrong with you. That you have some issue that prevents you from getting married or getting a boyfriend or living in a community. But there’s nothing wrong with being alone. Actually, being alone is good for you. I actually think I can hear God better when I’m alone. Because — let’s face it — God is always with us so in the strictest sense we aren’t ever truly alone.
God is always talking, always leading, always saying something. He never stops. It’s just us who fail to listen.
The verse of today comes from Romans 8:38-39
38 And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,[a] neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. 39 No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Not only are we never alone, this verse says that nothing can separate us from God or from His love. So we’re never truly alone and we never will be, no matter what happens.
Do I miss having people around? Well, of course, I do sometimes. I’m human. I like having friends and spendinng time with them. But I enjoy my time alone too.
Our culture tells us that we have to have people around us. That we have to be constantly flitting around from social gathering to social gathering with a gaggle of friends in one hand and a lineup of possible spouses in another. And that’s wrong. All of that is just noise.
Spending time with people can be good for you, but you should balance it by spending time alone, especially by spending time alone with God. He’s the friend who never leaves you, never lets you down and always has the best advice you should follow. He doesn’t talk over you and He will always listen when you need to talk. And He loves you. And He’ll always be there. He’s the best friend you’ll ever have.
Always Peachy 