It is easy to feel alone. Nobody knows your troubles, nobody understands, nobody cares. I live in a house with three girls; at times it is hard to know which one of us has the most troubles! We believe that ours are the worst. We suggest that it is because others are not compassionate enough that everyone doesn’t recognize that his or her troubles are the most intense, most wicked, and most unsolvable. The competition never quite ends. Even when things are going well, we individually feel that the others do not understand the tasks and difficulties at hand.
I do not believe that our family is any different from any other group of people. Everyone is struggling, or at least he or she believes that this accurately describes the particular circumstances where he or she finds himself or herself. Individual fears, uncertainties, and doubts continue to run rampant in the minds. Everyone finds the stage to be isolated, alone, and under threat. This is more a norm than an exception. If only there were more on side, more focused on the cause, more, well just more people who understood and acted.
The answer is one our hearts need to hear and understand. “There are more, many more.” Husbands have their wives. Children have their siblings and their parents. Corporate workers have people who share the same vision, commitment, and goals. Even those working through the darkness of the night share community.
John thought the earth was mulch in judgment’s sickle. Death, destruction, and mayhem were the only results to come. He was alone. Then he heard and saw the angel’s message to the ones with the tools. “Harvest earth’s vineyard. The grapes are bursting with ripeness” (Revelation 14.18) Everyone he looked there were those standing tall, holding the faith, and keeping God’s values of compassion, hope, love, mercy, and acceptance close to their hearts.
We are not alone. We have people and the Spirit willing to make a difference. The key lies in our willingness to be part of a family instead of fighting alone.
