[:en]THE SHEPHERD’S CORNER

In his autobiography, Just As I Am, Billy Graham writes that the higher our position is, the lonelier it gets. Yes, high up in the hierarchy we usually have less friends—and sometimes, more enemies. But, loneliness knows no boundary; it can come to us at any time, at any place. Even in the crowd we can get lonely.

We normally associate loneliness with absence—someone who was here is no longer with us—as if his or her absence were the reason why we are now lonely. But, the truth is we feel lonely not because of absence but rather because of emptiness. Yes, the absence of somebody can make us lonely but equally true the presence of somebody can make us lonely, too. Emptiness creates loneliness.

We cannot fill an empty heart with people anymore than we can fill an empty house with light bulbs. Light bulbs would only brighten the rooms in the same way people would only brighten the heart, not fill it. So, what is it that can fill an empty heart? It’s none other than being cared for, being thought of, being present in someone else’s heart. When we know we’re still present in their hearts—that we are not forgotten, that we still matter—we will feel fulfilled.

When Senator John McCain was in captivity, the North Vietnamese soldiers tied his hands and legs together, rendering him unable to move. It was painful, to say the least. Once during Christmas time a soldier who was guarding him loosened the tie, giving him room to move. When McCain looked at him to show his gratitude, this soldier drew a cross on the ground with his leg, as if to tell him that he was a Christian. McCain believed that what happened that night was because of his father, who knelt down every night praying for him. He mattered to his dad and that’s enough to fill his heart.

Pastor Paul[:id]THE SHEPHERD’S CORNER

In his autobiography, Just As I Am, Billy Graham writes that the higher our position is, the lonelier it gets. Yes, high up in the hierarchy we usually have less friends—and sometimes, more enemies. But, loneliness knows no boundary; it can come to us at any time, at any place. Even in the crowd we can get lonely.

We normally associate loneliness with absence—someone who was here is no longer with us—as if his or her absence were the reason why we are now lonely. But, the truth is we feel lonely not because of absence but rather because of emptiness. Yes, the absence of somebody can make us lonely but equally true the presence of somebody can make us lonely, too. Emptiness creates loneliness.

We cannot fill an empty heart with people anymore than we can fill an empty house with light bulbs. Light bulbs would only brighten the rooms in the same way people would only brighten the heart, not fill it. So, what is it that can fill an empty heart? It’s none other than being cared for, being thought of, being present in someone else’s heart. When we know we’re still present in their hearts—that we are not forgotten, that we still matter—we will feel fulfilled.

When Senator John McCain was in captivity, the North Vietnamese soldiers tied his hands and legs together, rendering him unable to move. It was painful, to say the least. Once during Christmas time a soldier who was guarding him loosened the tie, giving him room to move. When McCain looked at him to show his gratitude, this soldier drew a cross on the ground with his leg, as if to tell him that he was a Christian. McCain believed that what happened that night was because of his father, who knelt down every night praying for him. He mattered to his dad and that’s enough to fill his heart.

Pastor Paul[:]