March 31, 2011

Where Laughter Melts Like Lemon Drops


I'm a chamber maid, careening the halls of life, at the ready with my cart, looking for...

Keys to your lonely heart. To vacuum the day after wreckage. Strip tear stained linens into the hamper. Wipe the mirror hollow eyes have questioned. Throw daylight into grim bleakness. Scoop your heart up - get away from it all.

Truly, only, really there is just One who can do that.


But to our wounds only God’s wounds can speak
And not a god has wounds, but Thou alone
Edward Shilliot

He is a man of sorrows. Familiar with suffering. He knows. He bore it.

Your 'it.' Gnawing loneliness -- famished loneliness -- jagged toothed ravenous loneliness. He bore it.

Perhaps you're on the platform of a barren train car, cascading the tracks of life, years blurring by. The air smells of regret. Chagrined that love - time - hope have slipped through fingers, too full of loneliness to hold much more.

One winged foot teeters off the edge of the box car, ready to get away from it. Desperate to soar over the rainbow where dark clouds are far behind and laughter melts like lemon drops. But the other foot is a pregnant worry, birthing 'what ifs.' What if I put myself out there and I'm hurt? Rejected? Still feel alone?

One step will begin to answer these bottomless questions. One jump off will be a step away from it all. Into the arms of wounded Love. Wounded to clean the hurt, clear the pain, carry the heart. Wounded to heal. Wounded to bear it. If we never jump, we'll never know.

Nothing is easy to the unwilling
Thomas Fuller

I don't know your exact circumstances, but I do know alone is isolating, wrought with despairing pain. I know we have to start somewhere and friend, I have a feeling that today is as good a day as any. God invites us to work in tandem with Him. May I encourage you to pray and seek what step to take to get away from it? Here are some ideas:

o Host a swap meet {purses, accessories, books, decorations}
o Have a comedy night. Rent a DVD & pop some Orville! {may I suggest Jim Gaffigan & Brian Regan}
o Join an online Bible Study {check out Melissa Taylor, Wendy Pope and Wendy Blight}
o Invite a friend to coffee & really listen to what's on her heart
o Call a family member. How can you pray for them today?
o Recite all the things you know about the Lord when loneliness comes a' knocking
{He's good. Faithful. Trustworthy. Caring. Loyal. Righteous. Holy. Sweet. Tender. A Father. Redeemer.}

What ideas do you have? I'd love for you to share encouragement for us as we jump off the train of negative thought?

xoxo, sam

10 comments:

Eileen said...

"If we never jump, we never know" AMEN!!

Unknown said...

Really good post. We may feel like the only lonely one, but there are people all around us that feel the same way. We have to take that first step and reach out, knowing God will go with us.
Have a blessed weekend, Sam.

Connecting to the soul said...

Morning Sam, being alone is one of the most scariest feelings in the world, I was there as a child and vowed if I was "ever found"I'd do my best to see no one I encounter feels that feeling. That's one reason I'm writing out of the shadows. thanks for your blog.

Kandi said...

I remember when I was walking through the darkest lonliest time of my life I was always hoping someone would see the pain I was feeling and reach out to me, no one ever did. So I took that first scary step, and oh and it was scary afraid someone would would see all the flaws lurking beneath my surface. But when I took that first step and joined a bible study God placed just the right women in that class. many of them I am still friends with today. I encourage anyone to take that first step, despite how scary it is, I know how scary it is. It was the best thing I ever did.

Anonymous said...

So deserately lonely, feel really lost. Please pray.

Fields of gold said...

Eileen, that is so true! Nothing ever changes unless we do something different!

Fields of gold said...

Lisa, well put. I remind myself of that often, to encourage myself to reach out. Blessings!

Fields of gold said...

Debi, what a beautiful way to put it. I'm so glad you're reaching out from the shadows and walking into the light! Write on girl!

Fields of gold said...

Kandi, that is remarkable strength and courage. I know it's hard to step out and be 'real' but the healing that comes from that is amazing! Love to hear you're living proof of that!

Fields of gold said...

Dear Anonymous,

Friend, I'm so sorry. I pray the depth of the grief and lonliness subsides and others surround you. May the Lord wash you with His peace and hope. I'm praying for you.