Elanor Rigby…
Waits at the window, wearing the face that she keeps in a jar by the door…who is it for?
All the lonely people, where do they all come from?
All the lonely people, where do they all belong?
– Elanor Rigby, The Beatles, 1966
I’ve seen fire and I’ve seen rain.
I’ve seen sunny days that I thought would never end.
I’ve seen lonely times when I could not find a friend.
But I always thought that I’d see you again.
– Fire and Rain, James Taylor, 1970
Just a castaway, an island lost at sea. Another lonely day, with no one here but me.
More loneliness than any man could bear. Rescue me before I fall into despair.
I’ll send an SOS to the world…I hope that someone gets my message in a bottle.
– Message in a Bottle, The Police, 1979
“Language…has created the word ‘loneliness’ to express the pain of being alone. And it has created the word ‘solitude’ to express the glory of being alone.”
– Paul Tilllich
“Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness.”
Genesis 1:26
“I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me.
John 17:20-21
“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.”
Colossians 3:16
“And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.”
Acts 2:44-47
“Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise. Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.”
James 5:13-16
“But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.”
Hebrews 3:13
“And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken.”
Ecclesiastes 4:12
“Won’t you look down upon me, Jesus, You’ve got to help me make a stand. You’ve just got to see me through another day. My body’s aching and my time is at hand and I won’t make it any other way.”
– “Fire and Rain”, James Taylor
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
Matthew 11:28, NIV
