Loneliness

I can think of one thing worse than needing help desperately; that is being lonely and in need. It is those who are poor and alone who cry out to God more intensely. "Turn thou to me, and be gracious to me; for I am lonely and afflicted" (Ps 25:16). "Hear my prayer, O Lord; let my cry come to thee! Do not hide thy face from me in the day of my distress! Incline my ear to me … I am like a lonely bird on the housetop" (Ps 102:1-7).

In my years at Catholic Social Services I have witnessed many needy individuals and families who have come through our doors for help. There is nothing worse than being alone and in need. All over southern Nebraska people like this will feel even more abandoned during Thanksgiving and the Christmas Season.

Those who read Seedlings might recall the blind woman I wrote about last year who called asking for food. Even though she was legitimately in need, she really wanted company - someone to talk to, someone to visit with her because she was lonely. After my initial visit, one of our volunteers starting visiting and helping her on a regular basis, which led to her joining the Catholic Church. She subsequently died, but not before receiving the sacraments of Holy Mother Church along with the Apostolic Pardon. She definitely is not alone now. The Lord indeed hears the cry of the poor (Ps 34:6).

Recently another woman who is elderly called me in distress. Due to some disabling medical problems, she is unable to drive and shop for herself. She is a widow without children and her relatives live hundreds of miles away. After talking to her for over an hour I discovered that it is her loneliness that is causing her the most suffering. Like that blind woman mentioned above, one of our volunteers will be getting involved to help her, not just with her needs, but with love.

I am grateful to all of our volunteers who help us across southern Nebraska. Our volunteers help us with clerical work, answering phones, helping in our fixed and mobile food pantries, our Christmas programs, in our thrift stores, our furniture and appliance drives, help with maintenance and vehicle repair, gardening, our First Friday Fish Fries outside of Lent for St. Gianna’s and many other countless tasks that are not mentioned here. I would like to thank all of our volunteers that have helped individuals like the above. Please pray that other men and women who feel called to help those who are alone and in need contact us, for we can only help those in need as described above only if we have the manpower to do so.

As mentioned above, loneliness is felt more acutely during Thanksgiving and the Christmas Season. Please also pray for those men and women, young and old, who never contact anyone for help, that their cries for help are heard soon. "Turn thou to me, and be gracious to me; for I am lonely and afflicted" (Ps 25:16)." "Hear my prayer, O Lord; let my cry come to thee! Do not hide thy face from me in the day of my distress! Incline my ear to me … I am like a lonely bird on the housetop" (Ps 102:1-7).