Allowing God to Reconnect Us

Lately, particularly since the deaths of my mothers, I have given a great deal ofthought to the connections I have with family, church family, colleagues, and friends. The loss of loved ones will do that to you. 

In the midst of this wonderful life that I have, there are moments when I feel lonely. It has always been so; for I can remember a particular incident when I was in my early twenties. I had broken up with a long time boyfriend, my job was not all that fun, I had stopped going to church and I found myself drifting down a lazy river into a big blue funk!
I had little clue in those days as to what "event" depression is and found myself adrift more each day!

Late one afternoon, drowning in this river of loneliness, I decided that the only thing to do was to pack up my things, leave my job and family and friends, and head off to a new place where I could start over. As I packed up, all I could do was dwell on how terrible it felt to be lonely and have that loneliness noticed by no one.

I had packed my last box and was preparing to pack up my Datsun station wagon when there came a knock at the door of my State Street apartment. When I opened the door, there stood a newer friend who had been one of my professors in college. He and his wife often had me over to dinner; in fact, I had met my latest boyfriend through them. That said, before that day, he and his wife had never stopped in at my apartment to visit without calling.

As he came into my apartment, he took one look at the boxes which held the contents of my life, and, without ever mentioning them, said, "Marianne and I wanted to invite you to come over to dinner this evening. We know it's short notice but we hope you can join us."