Thoughtful Moments

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 9, Issue 24, 16 November 1945, Page 2

Thoughtful Moments

(Supplied by the Whakatu

A SOLITARY WAY

A writer in an English magazine wrote to the lady editor: 1 am nil alone in the world, and have recently had a severe illness from which I did not expect to recover. However- 1 did recover, though nobody cares about that, and though 1 try to do my little bit of service T still feel I have nothing to live for. This is the Editor's reply:— To begin with 1 am .sure that when you feel stronger you will also feel less depressed. Because you recovered from your illness, it is certain that your work on earth is not done and if you will be patient •1 1 and hopeful you will find that the future has something in store. ,As for saying that since you are alontln tlie world nobody cares, don't you realise how many people thiere are in the world that you still may meet and in one of them—some. whcrc } sometime—find the reason for your restoration to life? This thought must give a sense of adventure and hope to the future. Everybody knows what convalescent depression is like, but. you have got to be sensible at such times and tell yourself that life as .you see it then is distorted and untrue. A short time ago T was. talking to a friend who a year or two before had been feeling rather like yourself. She ? too, was alone in the world, if you mean by that having no family, and had been very ill. She went to sit on a park bench, feeling terribly sorry for herself when she noticed a young girl at the other end of the bench, in tears. For a few moments she ignored the girl, but at conquering her selfish Indifference, .she asked was there anything she could do. "I'll tell you," said the girl, "because you're a stranger and it's easier than to tell anyone who knows, me." She was engaged to a nice boy in the R.A.F., and looking forward to an early marriage, but she had tuberculosis and now the final sad verdict had been given. She was to go into a sanatorium next week. My friend was touched by the story and instead of pouring out her own' troubles about which she had been so concerned, she found herself trying to give the girl comfort and hope. "How you have helped me!" the girl said ? "please promise that ii"*"

life Ministers' Association).

OUR SUNDAY MESSAGE

you'll meet me again." They made

an appointment, to meet attain: it was the beginning of a marvellous friendship. Twelve months, later that poor girl died ? hut my friend said of her "Because of Marjorie T can never reel depressed or alone attain. There are other Marjories in the world, and there is always friendship if you will look out fo) it." I don't say there is a Marjorie on every park ijench, ha I. there is. someone somewhere to whom you can give. Concentrate on the giving rather than getting for yourself. When you do become really well, look out —not for .somebody bursting with healthy wealth and happiness hilt, for someone wrose off than yourself. While there's life there's friendship, and a true friendship means happiness. There is a mystery in human hearts. And though we be encircled by host Of those who love us well, and are beloved To every one of us } from time to time There comes a .sense of utter loneliness. Our dearest friend is stranger to our .i°y., And cannot realise our bitterness 'There is not one that really understands Not one to enter into all I feel.' Such is the cry of each of us in tunr. We wander in a solitary way, No matter where or what our lot maj f be. Each heart, mysterious even to itself ? Must live its inner life in solitude. Anil would you know the reason why this is? It is because the Lord desires our love; In every heart lie wishes to be first ; He therefore keeps the .secret key Himsif ? To open all its chambers and to bless With perfect sympathy and holy peace Each solitary soul which comes to Him So when we feel this loneliness it ts, The voice of Jesus saying 'Come to me'; And every time we are 'not understood' t> is a call to us to'come again.; For Christ alone can satisfy the soul, find those who walk with llini> from day to day, L'a.i never anve a solitary way.