Alone in Arkansas
 

Here I am alone in Arkansas on the banks of the Little Red River. I'm next to a glowing hot campfire in the grey light of the full harvest moon. The crickets chirp around me and a nearby Bard owl asks his nightime question from the tops of stately oaks. The contrast of the heat from the fire with the coolness of the Autumn air relaxes me. I sit here reflecting.

I look ahead of me and there is a clearing made visible by moonbeams. As the owl calls again, I think about how solitary I feel. I wish someone was here with me. I wish I could talk to someone, anyone...

The men in my group enjoyed a day of travel, fellowship, fishing, eating, watching baseball and football, joking, laughing, conversing, winding down. They're all asleep. I am wide awake. The lateness of our scrumptuous meal evidently has me up. It could be the two large glasses of iced tea I drank with the meal and all of the caffeine.

Whatever the case, I long for something, someone. In the moment I feel that, listening to the nocturnal king of the treetops calling, I have a flash of thought: wouldn't it be something wonderful if the Lord materialized in that clearing ahead of me and came walking toward me and sat down with me and we just talked?

Like how he tangibly came to Abraham along with two angels and He sat down, ate with Abe, talked with Abe next to a fire, told Abraham things that changed his life forever. That kind of appearance.

Like when He showed up when Jacob was searching for answers in the night time, and wrestled with Jake until the breaking of the dawn? Jacob was never the same after that encounter. I could go for just the verbal wrestling match however, rather than a physical one with God.

Like when Moses went up into the mountain and God passed by him and showed him a portion of his glory.

Like when He came to this earth 2,000 years ago and sat in this same moonlight, warming Himself by a fire, talking, listening, being a friend to a handful of misfit fishermen, tax collectors and political extremists...

I had a flash of a vision of Him appearing in that dimly lighted field walking toward me, smiling, sitting next to me in the chair and chatting with me. Suddenly I didn't feel alone. I knew He WAS here. Ready to talk. Ready to listen. Ready to show me and teach me and help me. He's here right now as I type this. He wanted me to share this for people tonight online who are lonely and are yearning for someone, anyone...

The reality is, you are longing for Jesus Christ. If you can recognize this, and realize that it is He that satisifies that hunger for companionship and longing. If you can believe in His love for you and His desire to have a personal relationship with you, you can become acutely aware that He is coming to you and is near you even now. He may come like He did in those Bible stories; I believe those things can and still happen. But more times than not He comes to us invisibly, but very much definitively...

Its up to you and me to believe He is ever present. It is up to us to trust that if we call out to Him, He answers and responds.

So, this is for somebody out there right now. Christ wants you to do what I'm getting ready to do: have a little talk with Jesus, tell Him what's on my mind. Try it. You'll find He's right there, and you'll know it. And that loneliness will depart. I promise.

Good night my friends. Time to have a chat.

Re: Alone in Arkansas
 

speaking of Arkansas we have a group of visitors from there visiting us...

Re: Alone in Arkansas
 

Deacon Blues, I wish I had read that last night. because that is exactly how I felt and what I did.

I live alone, and feel that way most every night, but last night was even more so, as my son and daughter in law, live next door, but they will be gone for a couple days. But I knew that I was not alone.

Re: Alone in Arkansas
 

Enjoyed the post DB!

I live with people and I feel like that all the time.

Why is this guy not a published author?

Re: Alone in Arkansas
 

I know what you mean. And that is one of the deepest loneliness, to be with people that you love, and not be able to share in their conversation.

For instance, often my son and DIL, will call me to come eat supper with them, they live next door. And I usually do. I would love to visit, but the TV is usually going and sometimes at blast pitch, especially if the Grandchildren are there.

Last night I went up, and my DIL and their 2 grandchildren were watching TV, a school for teen age witches. I felt like turning around and walking out, but figured that would be too rude. I ate, and it was getting dark, time to close up the chickens. So then I left, but I would have loved to visit, without the TV on.

My issue is family that values me for what they can take from me.

I can't stand visiting or dining with people who are glued to their cell phone.

Re: Alone in Arkansas
 

DB you are a writer!

Re: Alone in Arkansas
 

Great post.

Re: Alone in Arkansas
 

Loved it! Thanks DB! :)

Re: Alone in Arkansas
 

Wonderful post DB... amazing how you can "be" in the presence of people, and still "be lonely"... and yet you can be alone, with no one around, yet "be in the presence of the Lord" and not be lonely! Amazing concept... but oh so true!

Thanks for sharing your heartfelt thoughts with us!

Re: Alone in Arkansas
 

Growing up, and sometimes even as an adult, the most alone I have been have been with other people. I am often perfectly content when I am by myself working and otherwise "puttering" away.

Re: Alone in Arkansas
 

YES! Kept you said it well.

However, one of the most enjoyable times of my life, is working with my children or ggrchildren, whether it be cooking, working in the yard, garden, or even cleaning house, i'd take that over a present, anytime. Just for the joy it brings to all.

Re: Alone in Arkansas
 

I do agree... time is worth so much more than money. A gift of money takes far less work than building and maintaining a relationship.... but that relationship built brings far more happiness than any gift or $$ amount ever could.