On Loneliness
I am not a summer girl. The heat, the lack of schedule and rhythm. It's just not for me. I've been lucky to find a collection of friends who also struggle with summer. We joke (but are serious) that we have seasonal depression - summer edition. And my friend who's a therapist even found an article about it, so I feel seen and validated. The loneliness this summer, in particular, has been crushing. I have drawn into myself and the walls of our home, convinced I was the only one not having the best summer of their life. But in being vulnerable with those around me, I've heard time and again how lonely they feel, as well. I'm not unproductive. I've organized closets and made meals, texted with friends, and even ventured out a few times each week. And still, that lonely feeling persists. I know God is near and I work daily to give Him my loneliness. I try and sort out the root cause. And after careful examination, I think the root cause is my humanity. So simple. An...