Thought for the Day - Wednesday 22 July

Thought for the Day – Wednesday 22^nd July

‘Only Luke is with me.’ (2 Timothy 4: 11a)

I think our time of Lockdown has highlighted for us, in a way which probably we have never considered before, so many of the social problems and social challenges of our time - homelessness, poverty and unemployment being but a few examples of these problems and challenges. There is no denying that each of these brings pain and anxiety and worry to those who find themselves with no roof over their head or no food in their cupboard or no job to bring in a wage.

However, I think there is a problem which is equally widespread and equally painful to endure and certainly one which has not been helped by people having to isolate or shield or just stay away from people during Lockdown and that is loneliness.

Throughout my ministry I have always been aware of the question of loneliness because I suppose a great many of my Pastoral Visits would involve visiting with those who are lonely and taking time to talk with them about the loneliness they feel due to living on their own or being housebound or having lost a loved one, sometimes their loneliness arises because they have fallen out with people or pushed them away and cannot find it in their hearts to forgive or reconcile.

We live in a world where actually people are crying out for companionship and I don’t just mean the elderly or the housebound, who feel loneliness most acutely, but also those from all walks of life and of all ages who are feeling lonely because our society is becoming more and more fragmented with people as a result becoming more and more isolated. Some folk no longer know their next door neighbour, some folk feel totally alone even when in a crowd, some folk may not actually utter a word to anyone from one week to next – I know that’s why if I am out for a walk and I pass someone, particularly an elderly person I always make a point of saying ‘hello’ or ‘good morning’ even if they do not respond because I think to myself ‘I may be the only one who speaks to you today… or even this week’.

I think Lockdown has highlighted for all of us the issue of loneliness and how easy it can be to feel lonely.

So as Christians how should we be responding to all this loneliness.

Well, if we are feeling lonely ourselves perhaps we need to take courage, be brave, be bold and reach out to another person in friendship, just break the ice and see what develops - it may well be that that person is feeling equally lonely.

If we know someone who is lonely, perhaps we could do something to help – like me speaking to folk on my walk it may be a simple word of greeting offered, it may be a thoughtful, kind phone call, sometimes just giving someone a wee wave helps them to know they have been noticed by someone and that helps them feel less alone. All these simple actions could mean that someone crying out for human contact might feel a little less lonely – at least on that day for loneliness is not quite so easily overcome.

Timothy in our passage was feeling lonely – all the folk around him had gone to get on with their missions he only had Luke with him and so those feelings of loneliness arose within him.

Whoever you are, however you feel, try reaching out with a hand of friendship to others and I am sure God will surprise you with the results and someone might just feel a little less lonely.

Prayer

God of grace,

At the beginning of each new day we call on your name and we thank you for your faithfulness to us in each difficult time we face. Embolden us to reach out to those who feel lonely and offer to them your loving care and compassion. In our moments of loneliness give us an awareness of your presence and a heart full of trust in you and your loving care for us. Bring us, Lord, to a place of contentment where we can rest in your peace and put into your hands those feelings which cause us anxiety and worry and pain. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.