I was eating at a Subway the other day and heard the “Piano Man” by Billy Joel being played. I’ve heard the song many times before but a line caught my attention that hadn’t struck me before. It’s toward the end of the song and says: “…and their sharing a drink they call lonliness, but it’s better than drinking alone…”.
It’s funny how you can be in a room full of people and still feel so alone. They can even be people that you know and maybe even consider friends but yet you still feel alone inside. What stood out from the song was how you can take a bunch of people that feel alone and put them together and the lonliness won’t be cured but instead they’ll just share in being alone. There is something within us that longs for something so much greater than can be found in ourselves.
As a follower of Christ I believe our being made in the image of God is what is responsible for that longing and I’ve had that desire satisfied. There are times though when I’m still tempted to think that I’m all alone and then I’m reminded that I’m never alone as the Word reminds me in Hebrews 13:5. Piano Man remind me that there are so many people that we come across throughout the day who are so lonely on the inside and often turn to destructive ways to satisfy their lonliness only to find more sadness and more lonliness.
These are the people that Christ has called us to shine forth His wonderful news of grace and mercy through our lives.
Ya know Bob.
This very thing has been on my mind a lot lately! I have sat in a room full of my best friends and still felt so alone. But the times I feel this the most, are the times that I want to be getting closer to God and not with my friends. (But, fellowship is also an extremely important thing to have; to be around Godly people!) Its the times that I want to sit and talk to God in the stillness of a quiet room. And its those very times that I am engulfed with His presence; the knowhow that He is indeed there for me!
-matt
Hey Matt – I know exactly what you mean. You make a great distinction between our fellowship with people and our fellowship with Christ and the deep need we have to be filled with His presence over and above anything else.
I can get so “busy” with ministry and church activities sometimes that I fail to spend time with my Lord. At those moments it is so wonderful to be reminded that He is the fulfillment of what I’m longing for.
Being “Engulfed with His presence” is an appropriate way to describe the way I feel at those moments too!
Thanks for the comment.
Wow. Bob you are very insightful and I totally agree with both you and Matt. I could write a lot about this subject. As I’ve matured on my walk with Christ, I realized that even though I had accepted Jesus as my Savior, sometimes I still feel/felt so alone. A few months ago I realized that I desired to be loved too much by others and no person can fill my every need. I realized that I was too emotionally dependent on some one who had become an idol in my life and on some friends. It was really hard to admit that to myself and it took a while for me to get over that. It’s kind of crazy, because I just went from one idol(basketball) to the next. I REALLY questioned my salvation and it kind of scared me. After a lot of prayer, I’m the most dependent on God that I’ve ever been. It’s awesome! I could really write a lot about this and how awesome it is to feel so secure in Him. It’s still a struggle sometimes, especially when I just want a hug or someone to understand. I just go back to His promises in His word. God understands and He is so much bigger than anyone else. No ONE else can satisfy your every need, only God. I just helped out at the girls retreat on Sunday night and we talked about how we try to fill ourselves up with things rather than God. There was a really good quote in the book we got, “The part of you that aches to be filled is your soul, and your soul was made for God!”
Steph
Those are mighty insightful thoughts yourself Steph. That’s a wonderful lesson that the Lord taught you. I’m glad the Lord taught you that lesson so soon in your walk. Rhonda and I had to learn that difficult lesson ourselves just a few years ago. We didn’t realize how dependent we had become on others. You are so right in saying how awesome it is to be dependent on God and being free from seeking the approval and love of people. I enjoy the fellowship of body of Christ so much more since I’ve learned that lesson.
That’s a great quote too.