Article April 14, 1980 Issue

Never alone

CLARICE EDITH BERGER

Being alone—but not lonely—is it possible? Yes. Anyone who gains a spiritual sense of the Bible statement "God is love"^{I John 4:8;} can feel the allness of divine Love. "The depth, breadth, height, might, majesty, and glory of infinite Love fill all space," writes Mrs. Eddy. "That is enough!"^{Science and Health, p. 520;} This spiritual fact, understood, dispels loneliness that would keep us from feeling Love's presence with us.

Loneliness comes from a misconception of the nature of love. The human concept of love includes within it the possibility of separation and loss—the belief that a person can find himself unloved. By understanding God as infinite Love and feeling man's indissoluble relationship to Him as His beloved idea, we are freed from fear of being alone. Whether alone or with others, we can always feel the quiet satisfaction of God's love.

If we are alone through no choice of our own and feeling depressed, there is something we can do. Christ Jesus urged the commandment, "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength."^{Mark 12:30;} Perhaps we should think of these times alone as a good test of our love for God. Peace and satisfaction can fill the hours we must spend alone if we keep busy loving our God.