I'm reading Ecclesiastes and pondering on one of the usual passages that you hear out of it. The whole "two are better than one" deal. The thing is though, usually when this passage comes up you don't hear the whole of it, just the positive angle, what we want to focus on. Even as I read it I kind of skimmed the verses ahead and focused on 9-12. Anyway, here's the whole of it:
There was a man all alone;
he had neither son nor brother.
There was no end to his toil,
yet his eyes were not content
with his wealth.
"For whom am I toiling," he asked
"and why am I depriving myself of
enjoyment?"
This too is meaningless -
a miserable business!
Two are better than one,
better they have a good return for their work:
If one falls down,
his friend can help him up!
Also, if two lie down together, they
will keep warm.
But how can one keep warm alone?
Though one may be overpowered,
two can defend themselves.
A cord of three strands is not quickly
broken.
I can understand why people would only want to focus on the more positive angle of this, but personally I like to look at the whole story. I like to know background and context. If someone has experienced something negative I want to know what it was like for them so that I can decide for myself what I'll do if I'm ever faced with a similar scenario.
Anyway. This is Biblical proof that man is not destined to be alone. Whether it means that you'll live with a couple good friends by your side or a crowd of people who love you, you will never be alone. Of course we all have the odd moment where we feel like there's nobody out there for us or that no one cares about our thoughts and emotions. Even in those moments we have the blessed assurance that Jesus is carrying us through. In your loneliest moments, YOU ARE NEVER ALONE. It's like it says in that poem by Margaret Powers, "My precious child, I love you and will never leave you, never, ever, during your trials and testings. When you saw only one set of footprints, It was then that I carried you."
Going through life alone is overrated. Sure you're independent, you can take care of yourself, you don't want to burden other people with your troubles. The excuses could go on forever. The truth of the matter though is this: everybody wants somebody. Somebody to share your load, to take care of you when you're feeling alone and scared, someone that you can depend on because you've been depending on yourself for as long as you can remember. If you have a longing to be with someone 'til death do you part', chances are quite good that God has that planned in your future. You just need to wait on Him. Live by His time. I know it's hard to do, but result will be amazing. Wait on Him.
If you look out into your life, at all your family, your friends, even people who you spend time around but don't really know; they care about you and what you're going through. If they are truly worth your time they want to take your burden because it hurts them to watch you carry it alone. It makes it loads easier to walk through life without the whole weight on you alone. I know you probably tell yourself that you don't want to burden them with your issues, so tell yourself the truth! Admit that you just can't stand letting go. You need to stop letting your past define who you are. The only way to move forward is by letting go of what holds you back....
