The Value Of Being Alone

- Probably one of the more difficult aspects of my situation is being alone so much of the time. The nurses are always busy so, aside from meals and getting me up and putting me to bed, they can't spend a lot of time with me,. At times, the loneliness is almost overpowering. Having said that, though, I have also come to understand that there are benefits to being alone.

The first is, of course, is fellowship with God. It is pretty hard to fellowship with both God and people at the same time. Besides, God deserves our undivided attention. Even Jesus, when He wanted to spend time with God, sought to be alone. I have learned to pray and talk to God in my mind so I can commune with God in the presence of people but it is so much better when it is just God and me. It is also a lot easier to hear from God, whether through a still, small voice or through the Bible, when one is alone. That is why I prefer to do my Bible reading before breakfast. The nurses are really busy then so I know for sure that I won't be disturbed.

Being alone so much has taught me a dependency on God that I wouldn't otherwise have. If there were people-around, it would be easy just to ask a person for the help I need but because, most of the time, there isn't, I have to depend on God for the help I need. Be it sending a nurse or some other kind of help.

Meditation is not something that I do enough of. I know that. However, the times when I do mull over a passage from the Bible, or maybe something that I have heard at church, are also times that I want to be alone so that my thoughts are unimpeded.

Being alone so much also helps me to keep my focus on God. When I am in the dining room for meals, my focus on God slips because I am so busy listening to the nurses or watching the other people. When I am alone, it should be easier for me to keep my focus on God but that depends whether or not I let my thoughts wander all over the place. That part is up to me.

Finally, I need to be alone to write this blog. I need undisturbed time on my computer to get it written. But, even before I start to write, it helps to be alone. Once the Holy Spirit has given me a title or what to write about, I like to make an outline in my head and, then, fill in the details as I write. Time alone makes it easier to come up with that outline.

So, you see, being alone is not a bad thing at all. Ultimately, I guess, whether or not it makes me feel lonely depends mostly on my state of mind.