Eleanor Rigby? Father McKenzie? Or maybe not, the choice is yours

There are over 7 1/2 billion people in this world. That’s 1 billion with a capital B. There are over 300 million in the United States. Virginia has over 8 1/2 million people. And my little area of Appomattox has Over 15,000 in the county, over 1700 in the city of Appomattox, and my little community of Evergreen has 119. Well, with Lisa and myself, I guess it might be 121.

There are a lot of people in this world but I have noticed a few things. One is that people often are very lonely.

So I googled what were some of the top songs connected to loneliness. I found a site that listed the top 15 songs from their opinion. As I read them and the lyrics, I started getting lonely and was overwhelmed with melancholy. I even did a foolish thing, and pulled a few of the songs up on iTunes and began to listen. I don’t say this very often, but I could use a hug. Well, maybe not a hug but at least someone else in the car with me. So what are the top five? Here they are…

One – Elvis Presley, Are You Lonesome Tonight?

Two – Ray Orbison, Only the Lonely

Three – Al Green, Tired of Being Alone

Four – the Beatles, Eleanor Rigby

Five – Air Supply, I’m all out of Love

For the record, Air Supply got to my heart. I’m such a softy. But the dreams that make me wake up in the middle of the night shaking and sweating are the ones where I no longer have Lisa, or Lisa is walking away. I’m so lost without you, what am I without you, and so on. I’m such s sap.

Let’s get back to point.

Now, as I mentioned before, I live in a community that has 121 people. 121. That’s really not a lot. And to be geographically specific, Evergreen is really only the post office, a little building of about 2000 ft.² of which maybe 400 ft.² is used for the post office. That is the only location the postal service recognizes as Evergreen.

But I’m not lonely. And even when Lisa was in Dallas for my first 2 1/2 months, I was OK. Yes I lived alone, yes I went out to eat alone, yes I even went to the movie alone. But I had family. Not biological, for they’re scattered all over the planet. But I had church family, people that reached out, cared, called, texted, emailed, Facebook, Snapchat, Instagram, and scores of other little ways in which they stayed connected. Maybe it’s the closeness of living in heartland Virginia, or the rural community where family is king. Or maybe it’s the bond that we have through our faith and our church family.

I could’ve closed my doors, listen to Air Supply, pined for Lisa, or any other number of things that would’ve kept me isolated. But I’m glad I didn’t and I’m glad that my church was here and is still here keeping the connections tight.

We’re not perfect, they’re not perfect, but God has provided a way for his people to stay connected. I do not know your situation but I hope you have some church family that shares the same faith and the same bond of love that we find in Jesus Christ.

If you don’t, then head on over to Evergreen where I think you’ll find a church family that shows they love each other and will love you too.