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Singleness - whether temporally or more long-term, is a privilege rather than the problem many regard it as and Christians can and should enjoy the freedom and responsiblilties that the single life brings. A speaker once said, that to be a widow is pure humiliation. This brings to my mind the time the prophet wanted to describe the desolation of the holy city - Jerusalem - after the fall of Judah. He actually compared it to a widow! 'How doth the city sit solitary, that was full of people! how is she become a widow! she that was great among the nations, and the princess among the provinces; how is she become tributary!' (Lam 1:1). I can remember the very night Valisisnana, departed out of this world in my own hands and how lonely the night was with me in the hospital ward, the sleepless night I experienced then as no other patients nor visitors were around. A lady attendant because of her work, had to be in her office. I was forced to accept the fact of 1Thessalonians 5:18 "In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you" . Give thanks for this? A sick brother, unsatisfactory living conditions, being in this mess? My prayer, or should I say thought few minutes before his lonely departure was, ‘You give and take’. If it is your will, then take his life". I understand the stature of loneliness then - being in isolation from the brotherhood, receiving exhortations from them, I got myself embedded in the readings of the pioneer writings and other literature pertaining to our call of the gospel. And I don't think, should we be faithful servants in the Master’s vineyard, anything can separate us from the call we were being called for! We hope for the coming of Christ, the Messiah and strongly believe that the signs in the Middle East will culminate in His coming. (What if He tarries still, 'cause of our friends, colleagues, relations who have not yet received His message?) Whether lonely, in isolation or in an ecclesia, the great commission still binds us to our call. (Mark 16:15).
A Brother