The single solitary vibrant red leaf clings to the branch. There is nothing around it, no other leaves. It is alone clinging to its place.
People are alone at different times in their lives. A young mother spends the night up with her nursing baby – alone. An only child learns to play games with their own imaginary friends. Nothing is more alone than not being selected for something as a teenager. Our success and failure at college or a trade begins to reveal the amount of alone time you will have in your lifetime. Sometimes we are alone even when we are in a marriage or a relationship. That is great aloneness. As we move, age, change aloneness makes us cling to our branch just like the red leaf. We come into the world alone and we die alone. It is the time of aloneness that contrasts so delightfully with our time with family, friends, and God.
Another red leaf has fallen and lays alone in the snow.
Christ was alone in the wilderness, in the mountains, at Gethsemane, on the cross and at his Ascension. “Behold I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him, and will dine with him, and he with Me.” Revelation 3:20 NAS ‘Lord, I sometimes cannot see the great changes taking place when I replace me with You. I know You are changing me. Please do not give up when I fail or take a break from You.’
Have you ever been alone for an extended period of time? What is that like for you? What have you learned?