Living Into Loneliness – August 31, 2003
During this year we commemorate 75 years of continuous broadcasting. Today’s message was delivered by Richard L. Evans in 1948.
“It isn’t easy for those who are young to understand the loneliness that comes when life changes from a time of preparation and performance to a time of putting things away. In the eager and active years of youth it isn’t easy to understand how parents feel as their loved ones, one by one, leave the family fireside. To be so long the center of a home, so much sought after, and then, almost suddenly, to be on the sidelines watching the procession pass by—this is living into loneliness.
Of course we may think we are thoughtful of parents and of others who are older. Don’t we send them gifts and messages on special days? And don’t we make an occasional quick call as a token of our attention? It is something to be remembered on anniversaries, to be sure. But passing and perfunctory performances are not enough to keep loneliness in its place the whole year round. What they need in the loneliness of their older years is what we needed in the uncertain years of our youth: a sense of belonging, an assurance of being wanted, and the kindly ministrations of loving hearts and hands; not merely dutiful formality; not merely a room in a building, but room in someone’s heart and life.
We have to live a long time to learn how empty a room can be that is filled only with furniture. It takes someone on whom we have claims beyond mere hired service, beyond institutional care or professional duty, to bless the memories of the past and keep them warmly living in the present. And we who are younger should never become so blindly absorbed in our own pursuits as to forget that there are still with us those who will live in loneliness unless we let them share our lives as once they let us share theirs.
When they were moving in the mainstream of their own impelling affairs, we were a burden—or could have been if they had chosen to consider us as such. But now we are stronger, and they are less strong.
We cannot bring them back the morning. But we can help them live in the warm glow of sunset made more beautiful by our thoughtfulness for them. Life in its fullness is a loving ministry of service from generation to generation. God grant that those who belong to us may never be left in loneliness.”
Program #3863
© Richard L. Evans. Used with permission of Richard L. Evans Family. Originally written and delivered by Richard L. Evans.