"It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper suitable for him." In Genesis Chapter 2, God made the preceeding declaration. "Alone" A lone what? A lone wolf? Wolves fare best in packs.. The Lone Ranger? He had his sidekick Tonto... The Lonestar State? A lot of people live there...
But there is something to be said for alone. I like alone... I walk alone, mostly live alone, primarily work alone in an office full of other people. Sure, it is lonely at times but that isn't all bad. I don't have feel like I am inconveniencing anyone. I don't have to do what other people want to do and if I don't invite anyone to join me, there is no disappointment if no one shows up. For the most part, alone is predictable and alone is safe.
...But alone IS lonely. Alone can be boring. Ever listen to a good love song alone? Or for that matter a symphony? How about staring at a full moon alone? A campfire? Even singing alone loses its enjoyment after a time. And as Ecclesiastes says, "Two are better than one for if one man falls, the other can help him up, pity the poor man who falls and has no one to pick him up..."
Now don't get me wrong, alone time is important. For some of us, our best ideas come when we have some time alone. Sometimes we need to spend some time alone with God... But then again, are we really alone then? Come to think of it, if God is everywhere, how is it that is takes so little effort to feel lonely?
I only can conclude that alone is a choice. Alone is at times a cowardly response to a life that we want to control, or the product of the fear of rejection, or trying to avoid the pain that is the inevitable part of knowing others and being vulnerable. Alone is an acknowledgement that we need to step back and take a look at our lives but it can also allow us to escape the sage advice of those who would tell us we are going nowhere fast-if we would just spend time with them enough to listen. Perhaps the expression "it is lonely at the top" comes from the principle that you have to come down for a bit if you want to have others with you. Of course, you can bring them up with you, but then what if they end up over you? Human nature causes us to want to at least feel like we alone are charge of our own lives. But God, through life, is constantly reminding us otherwise.
But then, alone and lonely aren't necessarily the same thing. Someone in a crowd isn't alone but he or she may feel lonelier in that setting than somewhere by his or herself. And no one likes to be the "third wheel." But we have our reasons for being alone. Perhaps it is what we want for now. After all, a wounded heart needs time to heal and there is nothing safe about life. But do we try to make life too safe? Ironically, if you spend too much time alone, being alone gets easier but life doesn't necessarily get any better. In a way, it is easy to forget what you are missing-especially if your most immediate memories are the least pleasant... So treasure those moments when true fellowship occurs. Seek to care for others whatever the cost. Love and be loved, one person at a time. Be hurt, heal, Live! It is not good for man to be alone... So why do we insist on living that way?
