I'm so lonesome I could cry
Some of you will recognize the title of this post as the title of a Hank Williams Sr. hit song. The lyrics of the song are:
"Hear the lonesome whipperwill, He sounds too blue to fly.
The midnight train is whining low, I'm so lonesome I could cry."
As I think about those lyrics.. I'm a little apprehensive to type anymore but, I'm going to jump in and hope that everyone who reads this hears my heart and doesn't just read the words. Ok, here goes. I sure hope you don't judge me or critique me. I hope you HEAR me.
The past several months I have experienced loneliness unlike anything I've experienced in 29 years of ministry. Now, before I go any farther... someone may be thinking "Gregg Potts... lonely? I can't imagine that." I am a very outgoing person and and I do know a lot of people but.. there is a difference between KNOWING a lot of people and being friends with a lot of people. I'm guessing there are other ministers like me... we know LOTS of people but we aren't friends with many. I'll get back to why later.
My loneliness started last fall when the boys moved out to go to college. Now someone is saying "Man, I was GLAD when mine moved out." I'm sure that's true but, that wasn't the case with me. I love my boys and enjoy watching ball games and going to ball games with them. So, their moving out has been a little tough. I'm adjusting and doing better but, it has contributed to some loneliness.
Then, my Dad's health began deteriorating. He has Parkinson's and is declining rapldly. There have been a few times when I've found myself thinking "I wish I could call Daddy." We didn't always agree but,at least he was there. But, that's gradually slipping. there are times when I would like to call but realize it's useless and that has created some loneliness. In the past,. he was often the one who could make sense out of life's issues. But, talking to him and him UNDERSTANDING as he did in the past, is no longer an option. Anyone who has had a Parent suffer dementia will understand what I mean.
A third thing that has contributed to my loneliness is the preacher syndrome. Most preachers or ministers know LOTS of people but we aren't friends with many. There are several reasons for this. One I think is people have a tendency to think ministers are different and when they are around the minister they have to act holier than normal. Please hear me; I can't speak for every minister but this minister wants you to be yourself. I want to be myself. So let's hang out and just be ourselves with one another. It can be done.
Ok, so you are thinking "What if I say an ugly word in front of the preacher while watching a ball game?" If it helps any, I've said an ugly word.... no, I need to correct that... I've said SEVERAL ugly words while watching ball games." So there, we are even.
Ok, you might be thinking, "Well, I like to drink a little while watching a ball game. I can't do that in front of the preacher." Again, I can't speak for every preacher but I can speak for this one; I can handle it. I grew up going to LSU football games where many drank beer like I would drink Iced tea. I've been too many weddings where liquor was served and to family reunions. I don't drink but but I don't judge those who do. Besides, even if the Preacher is not there, God still sees you. So don't elevate drinking to the "super sin" category. It's sin like everything else.
I have experienced loneliness and.. it stinks.
Now, I know my loneliness doesn't compare to the loneliness a grieving widow faces.
My loneliness doesn't compare to the loneliness a divorced spouse faces.
My loneliness doesn't compare to the loneliness a senior adult faces.
But, lonely is lonely and it still hurts.
So, what can we do about loneliness? I wish we could take a pill and cure it but, that's not possible although some, mistakenly, try to deal with loneliness through the use of narcotics.
The only real cure for loneliness is Jesus. But, sometimes, we need someone representing Jesus to reach out. That means us, Christians. We all live busy, hectic lives. And in the process, we overlook people who are lonely. Think about people around you. Call someone. Email someone. Visit someone.
Make yourself take 15 minutes out of your day and intentionally think of someone who is lonely and call them. If you can take 30 minutes, visit someone.
The Beatles had a hit song entitled "Sargeant Pepper's lonely hearts club band." Someone has said they were so lonely they got rejected by the "lonely hearts club band."
That's pretty lonely!
But, loneliness is not a laughing matter. It's rea.
Many people are "so lonesome they could cry." Reach out to someone lonely today.
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