First Baptist Church of Herndon

Alone vs Lonely

Linda Soller | Mar 23, 2020

So, let’s just note the elephant in the room – the coronavirus or COVID19. Wow, did you ever think this is how you would be spending your March? Unforeseen crisis situations happen all the time to people everywhere, but rarely at such a scale. I work in human resources so as you can imagine it’s all I do and think about all the time, well at work anyway.  Here are my thoughts for what they are worth.

We humans are so social that living and working in isolation is a tough situation for nearly all of us. I can’t tell you how many times I have wished for some time alone to get things done. Lesson - be careful what you wish for! Churches everywhere, including ours, have gone online as gathering people physically in a confined space is not just scary, it is irresponsible. The result of our safety actions is that many people are alone, and for some there is a heightened since of loneliness. I get it, the quiet can be deafening. But pause for a minute. You are not being rejected or shunned, you are alone because people, family, and employers care about you. Those folks may not have the solution you wish for, but if they didn’t care they would take the easy route and ignore what is best for you to have what is best for them. 

Let me also point out that God is with you. You are never truly alone. You can talk to him all day and night. It isn’t crazy to do that. You can reach out to friends and family for a call or email and find reassurance. You can participate in online worship to get the sense of community that you need to feel safe. You can pray for all those who are ill and support them. You can write cards and letters to let people know they are on your mind. You can read a good book. Oh, I don’t know – maybe the Bible? Here is what I do know. You do not have to feel lonely just because you are alone, for the moment. Alone and lonely don’t have to be a package deal.

Be humble, be grateful, and be love in our world this week! :o) Linda