Preparing to hold flowers

What do you think is one of the hardest if not the hardest pain to carry? I feel that there are multiple circumstances and events that could be painful and heavy to bear. However, I think being alone is somewhere towards the top. I don't necessarily mean simply being alone but rather feeling like you're the only one and the deep feelings of loneliness. I have encountered loneliness many times in the past few years, and it certainly is a cross to carry. I do believe that it's becoming more common unfortunately due to our fast-paced, social media and tech based world. Many people are now experiencing various things alone due to their higher activity and involvement based on technology and primarily, I feel, social media.

I don't own social media accounts and haven't for a while. I think using and checking social media is not bad in and of itself. It's where people are at. But I do think it is part of our society's problem or epidemic in experiencing loneliness and a void with connecting with people, and I mean really connecting with people, like an actual conversation.

For me, I think this feeling of being lonely has formed over a certain period of time. It's highly difficult to meet and connect with young people and it can be just as hard to figure out where to look to. I also think it's a certain stage in  life. Being outside of college and trying to make it and bloom where you're planted as they say isn't all that easy and it takes time. While listening to the radio yesterday, I couldn't help but notice the obviousness or the subtleties of some songs that depicted feeling lonely or not part of something bigger. I have liked this somewhat oldie for a while, She will be Loved by Maroon 5, but listening to it actually brought tears in my eyes, the lyrics touched me. It reminded me of how God wants to heal us and touch our hearts. "My heart is full and my door's always open, you come anytime you want...I don't mind spending everyday everyday out on your corner in the pouring rain look for the girl with the broken smile ask her if she wants to say a while and she will be loved".

When we are stripped of our comforts and our desires we are like Jesus on the cross who was stripped of his garments, comforts, love of human hearts as well as His Father's divine plan. His arms and hands were outstretched, giving us all of Him and submitting and uniting His will to His Father's. I too can submit my will with His and in the meantime serve others with my hands and use my hands to create beautiful and inspiring things.

Back in high school I took a pottery and ceramics class. I didn't happen to be very good at it and really tried to make something that looked recognizable or pleasing to my teacher. I made a vase that looked decent enough and was proud of it. I still have this rustic vase years later and have put fake flowers for added effect. I've kept these false white hydrangeas from an old friend sister's wedding a few years back. I don't grow tired looking at them. It made me think of all the hard work, frustration, insecurity and doubt while forming and making this clay vase. The hard work payed off because now there are beautiful flowers resting inside and showcasing their flair. The vase has earned it's reward, to hold something lovely and beautiful.