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.

What a wonderful, close relationship Jesus had with his Father! Even when he foreknew that his beloved disciples would all be scattered and leave him alone, he could say, "Yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me." ^{John 16:32;} Throughout his teachings, Jesus assured his followers that this same loving Father was not just with him but was with each of them.

Sometimes we may choose to be alone so that we can strive to feel more intimately the serenity of God. Away from the distractions of the world, we may more clearly hear God's voice speaking to us—the still small voice of Christ, Truth, that speaks to spiritual consciousness. Jesus' directive on prayer was, "Enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret." ^{Matt. 6:6;} In referring to this, Mrs. Eddy writes: "In order to pray aright, we must enter into the closet and shut the door. We must close the lips and silence the material senses. In the quiet sanctuary of earnest longings, we must deny sin and plead God's allness." ^{Science and Health, p. 15;}

As our understanding that God is infinite Love increases, it becomes impossible for us not to feel a deep happiness. Love and happiness go hand in hand. Our God enfolds all of His children in His great love, and His plan for each one includes only good. As we take the time to be alone with Him—make Him the very heart, the Soul, the Mind, and the strength of our daily lives—we become more and more conscious of our oneness with God and lose our fear of being alone.

This does not mean that we shut out our friends or sacrifice our human relationships. Following the example of Christ Jesus, we pray and commune with our Father "in the quiet sanctuary of earnest longings." Then we can enjoy with our friends the inspiration and spiritual truths that God has given us. God does not give us His thoughts and then not supply a way to express them. Radiating His love, we will not feel alone or lonely. Jesus said to his disciples, "I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you." ^{John 15:15;} This is the basis of true friendship—the mutual appreciation of God's love, God's ideas.

The greatest love we can ever know is found in God. The more we love Him and express His love to others, the more we feel Love being reflected in us. Love makes itself felt in our lives. It helps us over every difficult experience. It heals us. It comforts us.

Our Leader, Mrs. Eddy, tells us, "To have one God and avail yourself of the power of Spirit, you must love God supremely." ^{Science and Health, p. 167.} As we learn to love God more and more fully, He enriches our lives. Our Father is glorified through us, and we are never alone.