Word Shift: loneliness to aloneness

image shot at Sandia Crest, ABQ, New Mexico

Dear Friends!

“Happy” Thanksgiving. Holiday. “Merry” Christmas. How often have you already heard these words? They begin appearing as messages to our eyes and songs to our ears right after the back to school supplies are depleted from the store shelves. Words that evoke a season in our year and displayed in an array of decor and aromas. And depending on the day, or whom you are talking to there are various emotions conjured up like joy and sorrow and often in the same breath. Recently a dear friend of mine-described me as one who ‘laughs and cries’ all in one breath. I smiled and said “This is true.” Joy and sorrow. There are a number of reasons why this has formed in my life, but I’ll save that for another writing.

What I want to share is something I’ve come to appreciate with words.

It is called Word Shift. What takes place? A word shift happens when you take a familiar word, and notice its pattern of usage that holds you in some kind of stuck place, where life or thoughts become a little foggy or dim because the word has some trigger or affects you in some way that isn’t helpful. Sometimes the word has a feeling of resistance as well.

The offering is a Word Shift. This has been helpful for me—it brings in a newness, a light, a clearing of cloudiness. This replacement of word is not in and of itself the change but it can be a small step forward. With the longing and transformative work of God’s spirit in us something even greater begins to form. Stay with me, and I will share an example from my own life.

I admit the example and writing of Word Shift began back in the summer. When I wrote it, I knew there may be a time when it would come up. So for such a time as this season.

Why?

Because we all know of someone or we may ourselves experience the feeling(s) of loneliness and being alone especially in this time of year.

My hope is we will together be encouraged and receive peaceful Presence from our God when these feelings do arise.

So, today I offer a word shift that has brought healing to my own life. It was inspired from the reading of Reaching Out by Henri Nouwen “loneliness to solitude”

Word Shift: *Loneliness to Aloneness (part one)

Do you ever find yourself “slumping”?

Slumping comes from Norwegian origin of the word “slumpe” meaning “to fall.”  In the late 17th century the word’s meaning was “to fall into a bog.” This evening I use the word to describe the feeling of my tired self “slumping” into loneliness.

So what do you do when you begin slumping?

PAUSE. LISTEN.  I encourage you to journal the thoughts, feelings, and place(s) you find yourself in relation to slumping. What awareness comes to surface?

For me, this meant get out and take a walk.  This time, I drove to a new space to begin. I often find a change of scenery helps sort out my thoughts, then feelings. A sorting of what is real, what’s going on, why am I in such a rut or is some of this may be even disillusion.

I began driving slowly down Rio Grande Blvd. Slow because the speed limit is 25 mph for about 3 miles. And this was good for my soul. I needed the requirement “slow” so the Spirit of God could lead me out of my slumping loneliness. 

I arrived at my spontaneously decided place to spend my time walking—one of Albuquerque’s designated Open Spaces where I knew I could find shade on this hot summer night. As I began walking, and carrying my book, a conversation between God and I began.

“Lord, why am I feeling lonely? I don’t like this feeling.” I began my stroll in the tree lined paths of the mimosa, apple, cottonwoods, and pecans—hearing clicks of the cicadas and rumbling motorcycles not a quiet space but a spacious place where I could ponder. Listen. Take photos. Feel. Far and close. 

And wonder. “Maybe God, this is where you and I can meet on Wednesday’s during this new life season until it gets too cold?”

It was within these walking moments, I heard the spirit of God whisper “That’s a great idea. Let’s!”

From the slowness, the walking, and conversation with the Lord God: My loneliness turned into a most beautiful reveal of aloneness with God.

My heart lifted. My eyes and ears shifted. And here I am writing this post so I don’t forget this grace and life giving moment. So now when I begin to slump into loneliness, I pause and look around, upward and within—here I recognize I am in a special moment of aloneness with my God. His presence is with me. Sometimes lighting a candle reminds me of our aloneness, for some I know it’s a song from the lips that reveals aloneness with God rather than loneliness.

For with God, our loneliness changes to the beautiful gift of being alone with God—the one who give us “unfailing love and truth” (Psalm 89)

PAUSE and LISTEN.  I invite you to spend some time doing something slow when you come to a place of needing a word shift. Offer this word and its tension to God in conversation. Ask Him questions with your own wondering.

Take some time to reflect and journal if you wish your own noticing. Close your time offering God a prayer of thanksgiving..