I saw something the other night that as we get to a certain age - about 60 - we start the transition from the body to the birth of the soul which is at death. In a society that worships youth and is something we don't give a lot of thought to because everything is viewed from the lens of the young. Anyway, the theory is that a lot of the quiet introspection you see in the elderly is due to this process. Getting ready for the next phase. Some handle it better than others and I think that has a lot to do with your relationship with God.
Loneliness is something disdained in our culture where EVERYONE has to have a mate. It's wrong thinking brought about by the so called Good Book and its Noah's ark saga where all the animals had be in pairs. In the real universe which many are not aware of, it is a privilege to be alone and self-thinking. You came into this world alone, why should you be forced to have a compatriot to wile away your hours? You dont. Its nice to have someone who listens, rebukes, loves you and otherwise helps defray the alone-ness but it is not absolutely necessary. Get a dog or a cat or fish in an aquarium if you have to but we are living in a time when there are multiple opportunities to fill up the vacancy of being alone. We have been lied to for ages about how a human being man or woman must abide their time. Be grateful you are ALIVE
Well said. Out over the Atlantic, Pacific, Gulf of America, and the Gulf of Alaska, for decades in a Coast Guard rescue helicopter, alone, but not in many ways, because we were a flight crew of four, a team. I've often had similar thoughts to those you've expressed. What if I didn't come back tonight, whether by pilot error or mechanical failure. What then? My crew (and their families) depended on my skills and judgement. I could not let them down. Nor those whose lives I was trying to save. Think of the "perfect storm" in the Georges Bank, or Hurricane Katrina, or Hurricane Camille. I was out there on those nights piloting a rescue helicopater. Every emotion you describe (and more) went through my mind. Now that I'm older than dirt itself (mid 80s) , I'm grateful to be able to stiill be here to compliment your journalistic skills and emotional insights.
I used to think being alone was great. I lived alone for awhile before I married. After my divorce I was alone again, thinking it was better to be alone than with anybody. Then I met my 2nd husband, and I was with him for over 43 years. He died last year and I miss him more than anything. He was my soul-mate and the love of my life. I miss him more than anything, and I can't believe I ever thought being alone was ever better than being with anybody. It's been over a year already and I still cry most days I think about our life together. Maybe I will get over it someday, but not soon.
Unless one is actually forced into isolation by powers that be (PTB) -- legal, political, military, or otherwise -- that can fully control us to the point of total isolation, being alone is much more often a choice than anything else. There are always others that are alone that could use a friend, an encourager, a helper. One of my favorite examples of the impact one man, by all appearances alone and isolated by PTB, made in the life of another (also totally isolated by PTB, totally unjustly as it turns out), is found in Dumas' The Count of Monte Cristo ... a fictional but nevertheless powerful example.
When we get out of our own heads and stop thinking about, or even being obsessed by, our own perceived wants and needs and fears and actually choose to love others, ie, to be a blessing for others, there is absolutely no end to those we can be with in a way that blesses their lives and obviates our being alone. That in turn blesses us as we were all created to love and to be fulfilled by truly loving others, and loving requires that we seek out those that we can love, that need our love. God help us all do that.
Thanks brother, that was well written and introspective. I recently lost my mother due to Alzheimer's and I worry about my father who is 91 living in Florida alone for the first time in 65 years. I do talk to my father everyday as does my brother in Wyoming. We are all bachelors but we are blessed with friends though nowadays it is easy to lose them through a number of means, sickness, divorce, death and yes, politics. Maybe things have always been like this and it took me 60 years to figure it out, or were things once better and different? If they were, will we ever see them again?
We are all in a similar boat but we have no idea who sometimes who is rowing next to us. I am hopeful but due to incompetence in our governmental entities, the ones who are supposed to be working for us, I have had to return to work in order to pay off expenses that didn't exist before due to economical mismanagement. While I am lucky to have a job that I like, it keeps me away from my immediate family, especially from ones who do not have that much time left. Time will only tell us if our journeys will see light or dark.
Oddly enough I have felt that way my whole life, like someone kidnapped as a child and put with a tribe of people I don't understand, not my own. In 2013 I ditched it all, grabbed my dog, and took off in an RV, just us and our maker. Best time of my life, yet I let myself get pulled back into society whereas before I could just do in when I felt like it, like taking a sip of a strange drink. Seven years later I get the call from siblings someone needs to take care of mom and you don't do anything so you go. That was five years ago and here I am still, mom is almost 97 and I sit here feeling more alone than I ever have, wondering if I get that far will there be someone for me, will I care, and what was all this for?
Wow. What great insights. It was nice to see this pop up in my email. Well done Bier.
I saw something the other night that as we get to a certain age - about 60 - we start the transition from the body to the birth of the soul which is at death. In a society that worships youth and is something we don't give a lot of thought to because everything is viewed from the lens of the young. Anyway, the theory is that a lot of the quiet introspection you see in the elderly is due to this process. Getting ready for the next phase. Some handle it better than others and I think that has a lot to do with your relationship with God.
Loneliness is something disdained in our culture where EVERYONE has to have a mate. It's wrong thinking brought about by the so called Good Book and its Noah's ark saga where all the animals had be in pairs. In the real universe which many are not aware of, it is a privilege to be alone and self-thinking. You came into this world alone, why should you be forced to have a compatriot to wile away your hours? You dont. Its nice to have someone who listens, rebukes, loves you and otherwise helps defray the alone-ness but it is not absolutely necessary. Get a dog or a cat or fish in an aquarium if you have to but we are living in a time when there are multiple opportunities to fill up the vacancy of being alone. We have been lied to for ages about how a human being man or woman must abide their time. Be grateful you are ALIVE
Well said. Out over the Atlantic, Pacific, Gulf of America, and the Gulf of Alaska, for decades in a Coast Guard rescue helicopter, alone, but not in many ways, because we were a flight crew of four, a team. I've often had similar thoughts to those you've expressed. What if I didn't come back tonight, whether by pilot error or mechanical failure. What then? My crew (and their families) depended on my skills and judgement. I could not let them down. Nor those whose lives I was trying to save. Think of the "perfect storm" in the Georges Bank, or Hurricane Katrina, or Hurricane Camille. I was out there on those nights piloting a rescue helicopater. Every emotion you describe (and more) went through my mind. Now that I'm older than dirt itself (mid 80s) , I'm grateful to be able to stiill be here to compliment your journalistic skills and emotional insights.
Thank you for your service and thank you for the compliment.
I used to think being alone was great. I lived alone for awhile before I married. After my divorce I was alone again, thinking it was better to be alone than with anybody. Then I met my 2nd husband, and I was with him for over 43 years. He died last year and I miss him more than anything. He was my soul-mate and the love of my life. I miss him more than anything, and I can't believe I ever thought being alone was ever better than being with anybody. It's been over a year already and I still cry most days I think about our life together. Maybe I will get over it someday, but not soon.
We all face that reality at some point in our lives. I've been finding myself thinking about the same.
Beir, you're not alone you have inspired many people in this medium.
Keep up the fight.
Unless one is actually forced into isolation by powers that be (PTB) -- legal, political, military, or otherwise -- that can fully control us to the point of total isolation, being alone is much more often a choice than anything else. There are always others that are alone that could use a friend, an encourager, a helper. One of my favorite examples of the impact one man, by all appearances alone and isolated by PTB, made in the life of another (also totally isolated by PTB, totally unjustly as it turns out), is found in Dumas' The Count of Monte Cristo ... a fictional but nevertheless powerful example.
When we get out of our own heads and stop thinking about, or even being obsessed by, our own perceived wants and needs and fears and actually choose to love others, ie, to be a blessing for others, there is absolutely no end to those we can be with in a way that blesses their lives and obviates our being alone. That in turn blesses us as we were all created to love and to be fulfilled by truly loving others, and loving requires that we seek out those that we can love, that need our love. God help us all do that.
Thanks brother, that was well written and introspective. I recently lost my mother due to Alzheimer's and I worry about my father who is 91 living in Florida alone for the first time in 65 years. I do talk to my father everyday as does my brother in Wyoming. We are all bachelors but we are blessed with friends though nowadays it is easy to lose them through a number of means, sickness, divorce, death and yes, politics. Maybe things have always been like this and it took me 60 years to figure it out, or were things once better and different? If they were, will we ever see them again?
We are all in a similar boat but we have no idea who sometimes who is rowing next to us. I am hopeful but due to incompetence in our governmental entities, the ones who are supposed to be working for us, I have had to return to work in order to pay off expenses that didn't exist before due to economical mismanagement. While I am lucky to have a job that I like, it keeps me away from my immediate family, especially from ones who do not have that much time left. Time will only tell us if our journeys will see light or dark.
Beautiful sentiments. Alone time to connect with our Lord is precious time.
Beautifully written! Thank you
Thank you Mr. Nutz!
Powerful stuff. Thanks for sharing.
The flight deck was pretty spooky. You had to learn a whole new way of moving your head.
head on a swivel! how you doing Russ? good to see you on here!
I’m alive. 🤣🤣🇺🇸⚓️⚔️
That's a good thing!!😄
Oddly enough I have felt that way my whole life, like someone kidnapped as a child and put with a tribe of people I don't understand, not my own. In 2013 I ditched it all, grabbed my dog, and took off in an RV, just us and our maker. Best time of my life, yet I let myself get pulled back into society whereas before I could just do in when I felt like it, like taking a sip of a strange drink. Seven years later I get the call from siblings someone needs to take care of mom and you don't do anything so you go. That was five years ago and here I am still, mom is almost 97 and I sit here feeling more alone than I ever have, wondering if I get that far will there be someone for me, will I care, and what was all this for?