This is a tough post. It’s tough to write, tough to read, tough to digest. But this is the bottom line: humans are self-centered. Have you ever looked at a group picture? Whose face do you first try to find? Your own, of course. If your own body hurts, how long will you listen to someone talk about his or her aches and pains without bringing up your own? Listen to a conversation sometime. How often does that person use the word “I?” A lot more than our ears would like, more than likely.
So here’s the thing. If we have isolated ourselves, if we have limited our human interactions to the bare minimum, yes, we do it because of deep hurts, yes, sometimes drawing back for a short season feels like our only option, but you know what else? We do it because we are selfish. (I told you this would be hard to read. ) We get so focused on our hurt, on our tragedy that we forget there’s people out there who need us. They need our friendship. They need our unique skills. They need our prayers. Every single person in the world has a job on this planet that involves touching another life. Perhaps we are a neurosurgeon who saves thousand of lives. Perhaps we are the only person in town who can make the grumpy postmaster smile. Whatever our role is supposed to be, if we have become isolated in our self-made prison, then that role is likely not being played by anyone. The human race has a void because we are being selfish.
I remember one time I was sitting in the waiting room of a clinic. I had traumatic things happen to me as a young girl in clinics so to this day, I avoid them as much as possible. On top of being sick, my heart hurt. To be honest, I don’t remember why it hurt, I just remember it did. A young girl about 10 or so walked up to where I sat in a cold plastic chair. Her face was shaped like others I know who have Down’s Syndrome. This girl, whom I have never seen before or since, extended her arms and gave me a great big hug. I heard her mom apologizing. “Oh, thank you,” I said to the little girl, and, “Oh, it’s quite alright,” to the mother. I desperately needed that hug, that day, that instant. That little girl had fulfilled her role that day. I was her assignment.
So maybe like me you’ve been told or have told yourself all your life that you are shy, reserved, maybe even anti-social. Like me, you use this as a reason to not meet people, to not try new things. So okay, maybe you and I will never run for public office, maybe we will never sing karaoke in front of hundreds of people. And you know what? We don’t have to do any of those things, but do you know what will happen if we don’t take a few chances on a regular basis? Our worlds shrink, our intellect shrinks and our fears become bigger and bigger. Our hearts cry out because we are so lonely. We cling to the few remaining in our inner circle even if our relationship with them isn’t healthy.
But God wants better things for you. Jesus yearns to be your best friend. The plans God has for you are to give you a future and to give you hope. I have yet to read anything in the Bible that says God wants us comfortable. He wants us to be at peace, but that peace comes only as we pick up the broken pieces of our lives and give everything–all our fears, all our desires–everything–to God. This is the first step out of selfish desires, our first step toward God, our first step toward a great adventure. How do I know all this? I know it because I lived it. I know many others who have a similar testimony. Life on the other side of isolation is so much better, not easy, but more fulfilling. I have a new life now and so can you.
If you feel so inclined, leave a comment to let me know you’ve been reading my blog and my words aren’t just floating in cyberspace. I’d be glad to hear your story, if you wish to share it. God bless you and thank you for stopping by!
GIDEON says
March 8, 2016 at 10:19 pmThank you, I too had to step out of isolation and JESUS helped me to do that. thanks again.
debbiewonser@yahoo.com says
March 8, 2016 at 10:30 pmThat’s great news, Gideon! Thanks for stopping by!