Outside of the box... outside of your mind.

One day at school, I receive a call from someone a lot older than me. I met the man in one of my classes last semester (can you guess which one? lol) and he wanted to get lunch. He's a very nice guy. Has a girlfriend. Studies hard. It's obvious that he prefers speaking Korean over English. I decide I'm going to buy some Wolfgang Puck and he chooses to eat the same thing as well. Then, he says he's going to pay for my food.

I reacted with a frantic "what?!" and I suppose I startled the guy. To be honest, I don't really know him TOO well and I thought it was asking too much for him to buy me food, even if he was older than me. In Korean, he tells me not to be so suspicious of him. I apologize and we just laugh it off. A bit awkward, even for me ^^:

As we're eating, however, he tells me that he has been lonely. Apparently, he doesn't have too many friends, since they all graduated already, and is constantly just studying. Though he goes to church regularly, and has, I bet, an awesome girlfriend, he was still lonely. At the moment, I didn't quite know how to react. I mean... how many people come to you and say that they're lonely? Of course, we went into a discussion about his faith and his silent study habits, and we finished the conversation by me offering prayer and giving him resources where he might find satisfaction and joy learning about God. But at the same time, I learned that loneliness is an issue that most of us keep to ourselves. Hence, I was very thankful that this man came with such a humble heart and in need of companionship because if he hadn't, who knows what he or the other person he asked to lunch might have done.

A few weeks have passed and I now find myself in a similar situation as him. Suddenly, I find myself guilty of not following my own advice and hence am a hypocrite. Always was. But this made it oh so clear...

There is definitely a very human and tangible side to all of this... loneliness. In the midst of trying to find a way to vent and express my thoughts, I realized that there is no one to listen. Not only that, even if there are a few people online on AIM, who wants to bother them right? It's one of the difficulties I face when I get too caught up with school, work, and just.. the daily routine. Hence.. I've concluded that I need to meet people. That I am at my best when I am in front of another human being. Reason being... I come out of myself. We all do, when we are in the presence of another human being. Perhaps it explains my great joy when I am able to help someone out - it gives me that sense of accomplishment, but also, it reminds me that the very act of communicating is crucial. I don't know if you've seen the "Clerk Expression Compassion for Robber"video that was on the news, but it serves to emphasize the importance of communication. I'm starting to feel better already :) Check out the first minute of the vid.

Now this doesn't change the fact that I need to change the way I do things when it comes to loneliness. Yes, there is the very human communication aspect and we should make sure we're communicating with others often, but this is another place where God's glory can also shine brightly. It's actually quite simple. Humans are social beings, and God is wanting and willing to talk to us/with us. If you see things in such a perspective, there's a magic that happens here... suddenly, loneliness becomes a joy, when we imagine the loneliness that God faces in a world that is lost. Our Christ on the cross must have been so lonely... despite the many people there that were weeping for him. To understand, even a fraction of this loneliness and His suffering, all of it becomes a priviledge and an amazing opportunity to further understand His love for us, which is so amazing, so compassionate, and so inclusive. It makes me close my eyes, breathe deep, and think about the possibility that what I feel now, might have purpose too! That God is teaching me, growing in me, even during a time when things appear dry, cold, and devoid of human presence. God hasn't forgotten my prayer during the good old elementary school days that I may one day become a great man, and He continues to refine me, even during the quiet times at night, when you and I are alone.

Let's not forget to truly love our neighboors. Sometimes, the person in need is hiding right around the corner. Human communication is a gift and we should do our very best to do it in a way that is pleasing to the Lord. In that regard, let's not forget about the constant communication that is always happening between Him and us; the all powerful, and ...well.. lonely little us.

-DK