The Church, both universal and local, is the family of God.  In Psalm 68: 6, God reveals this: “God sets the lonely in families. . .” As the family of God, remember those who are or may be lonely that “God sets in” your local family of God.  Reach out to them as spiritual siblings and out of love, not just for this particular “season,” but throughout the year.  You won’t make them feel “lucky,” but you will certainly make them feel “blessed.”

In 1964, the popular song “People Who Need People Are the Luckiest People in the World” debuted.  Barbara Streisand was probably its most popular singer, but there were others who sang it as well.

At this time of the year with Advent followed by Christmas Eve and Day, it appears the song has no relationship to these celebrations that are prominent to most Christians and churches.  They’re considered joyous occasions—which they are—and anticipated festivities.  A valid question arises: “Are they that for all?”

Each occasion focuses primarily on God.  First, the anticipation of the celebration of Christ’s first advent followed by anticipation of His second advent to come.  Christmas, focused rightly, belongs to God, the Father and the amazing gift of His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord, our Redeemer, and our Savior.  All of these celebrations nationally focus on families and are promoted as such by most churches.

This brings us back to the question, “Are they that for all?”  Some church members are the “People who need people” often overlooked.  They aren’t interested in feeling “lucky.”  They would simply be happy with feeling “blessed.”  The richest blessings come from other people and relationships. They’re people who experience feeling so alone, almost abandoned.  They are single men and women, widowed men and women with no children, perhaps divorced men and women with no children.  They’re the last survivors of their families with no children.  For many, friends have died, and the few remaining are somewhat oblivious to their sense of aloneness.

Following a very active and engaged life with others, deeply loving my immediate family, actively involved and contributing to my church for many years, I, unfortunately, find myself more alone than ever before with the exception of one summer living in Montpellier, France in 1971.  It was my first year living with a French family, as a missionary language student.  They all left for the summer as did all of my missionary colleagues who were either on vacation or on furlough.  I stood on the balcony with an apartment behind me void of any human movement or presence, looking out across the city, and feeling the loneliest I had ever felt in life—in a foreign country far from home.  It’s as vivid today, as it was 51 years ago. Today, I am less active and the lone survivor of the family I loved so much (a most unenviable position). Perhaps also, as others who have faithfully served their churches in diverse capacities for many years, there is the tendency to feel forgotten and left behind. This is a very common and mutual feeling of many today.

Confessions can be embarrassing and generally are given only in private.  Despite genuine embarrassment, I’m aware that some experience such feelings.  They’ve given so much to others and to their church communities throughout their lives to find themselves experiencing a sense of aloneness or abandonment.  Some have expressed their abandonment to me, which is why sharing such personal feelings might be helpful to others, that is, to both those who suffer and those who can assist. They would give anything for others to simply say, “Why don’t you join us for this activity?”  “Let’s go to our church concert together or meet and sit with each other.”  “Let’s attend this function together” or “Let’s meet somewhere for coffee, for time together, for a chat.”  “I miss your presence; let’s get together.”  “Let’s take in a movie together.”  “Some of us are taking a day trip; would you like to join us?”  It’s not the function that matters; it’s being wanted and one’s presence being appreciated or desirable.  What church doesn’t have such people hungry for human contact, fellowship, Christian mutual edification?  Do church leaders recognize those people exist in their congregations?  Perhaps the majority represent more of a certain age group—the elderly, but they exist in all ages.

Is it true that “People who need people are the luckiest people in the world?”  If we’re honest, wouldn’t most of us say it’s questionable?  Such a need might be a sign of something missing in one’s life that is basic to emotional, social, and spiritual health.

Sharing personal feelings as a Christian writer is awkward and uncomfortable to say the least.  It’s most embarrassing.  Nonetheless, it may help others who feel left behind and alone.  This “season” may be the most opportune time for such a confession for the sake of many.  This confession may also be a “seasoned confession,” as the writer is in her last “season” of life. The title, “A Season’s Seasoned Confession” seems most appropriate for this particular “season” and addressing a sad situation experienced by not a few in Christ’s community of believers.

The Church, both universal and local, is the family of God.  In Psalm 68: 6, God reveals this: “God sets the lonely in families. . .” As the family of God, remember those who are or may be lonely that “God sets in” your local family of God.  Reach out to them as spiritual siblings and out of love, not just for this particular “season,” but throughout the year.  You won’t make them feel “lucky,” but you will certainly make them feel “blessed.”

Helen Louise Herndon is a member of Central Presbyterian Church (EPC) in St. Louis, Missouri. She is freelance writer and served as a missionary to the Arab/Muslim world in France and North Africa.