Love and Loneliness

This sequence of posts have been inspired by Ravi Zacharias and his talk "The Inner Ache of Loneliness". These can be downloaded:

1. Part 1 of 3
2. Part 2 of 3
3. Part 3 of 3
   

I heard these talks at about the same time as two of my close friends had gone through the rigours of estrangement from people they both loved dearly. This has not been a particular easy patch in their lives: they feel lonely, isolated and undervalued.

I personally feel lonely at times: it is hard not have a companion whom you can share life's burdens, joys and struggles with, someone to love, and to be loved back in kind. I feel isolated: living a life the liberty which I hold dearly to is attacked by those who benefit from it, those who should know better don't and few who share my concern. I feel undervalued: I am ambitious, a young man looking for the next challenge, undervalued by one man albeit overvalued by another.

As these feelings sweep over me, I thank God for the rock that he is in my life. The following hymn is one of my favourites: its wording is stirring and raw, the accompanying music brings tears to my eyes...

Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
Hide me now my refuge be;
Let the water and the blood,
From your wounded side which flowed,
Be for sin the double cure;
Save me from its guilt and power.

Not the labor of my hands
Can fulfill your law’s demands;
Could my zeal no respite know,
Could my tears forever flow,
All for sin could not atone;
You must save, and You alone.

Nothing in my hand I bring,
Simply to your cross I cling;
Naked, come to you for dress;
Helpless look to you for grace;
Foul, I to the fountain fly;
Wash me, Savior, or I die.

While I draw this fleeting breath,
When my eyelids close in death,
When I soar to worlds unknown,
Stand before the judgment throne,
Hide me then, my refuge be,
Rock of Ages, cleft for me.

As I get time, I will summarise my thoughts on the topic of love and loneliness, guided by Ravi Zacharias.

Love and Loneliness

This sequence of posts have been inspired by Ravi Zacharias and his talk "The Inner Ache of Loneliness". These can be downloaded:

1. Part 1 of 3
2. Part 2 of 3
3. Part 3 of 3
   

I heard these talks at about the same time as two of my close friends had gone through the rigours of estrangement from people they both loved dearly. This has not been a particular easy patch in their lives: they feel lonely, isolated and undervalued.

I personally feel lonely at times: it is hard not have a companion whom you can share life's burdens, joys and struggles with, someone to love, and to be loved back in kind. I feel isolated: living a life the liberty which I hold dearly to is attacked by those who benefit from it, those who should know better don't and few who share my concern. I feel undervalued: I am ambitious, a young man looking for the next challenge, undervalued by one man albeit overvalued by another.

As these feelings sweep over me, I thank God for the rock that he is in my life. The following hymn is one of my favourites: its wording is stirring and raw, the accompanying music brings tears to my eyes...

Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
Hide me now my refuge be;
Let the water and the blood,
From your wounded side which flowed,
Be for sin the double cure;
Save me from its guilt and power.

Not the labor of my hands
Can fulfill your law’s demands;
Could my zeal no respite know,
Could my tears forever flow,
All for sin could not atone;
You must save, and You alone.

Nothing in my hand I bring,
Simply to your cross I cling;
Naked, come to you for dress;
Helpless look to you for grace;
Foul, I to the fountain fly;
Wash me, Savior, or I die.

While I draw this fleeting breath,
When my eyelids close in death,
When I soar to worlds unknown,
Stand before the judgment throne,
Hide me then, my refuge be,
Rock of Ages, cleft for me.

As I get time, I will summarise my thoughts on the topic of love and loneliness, guided by Ravi Zacharias.