One Is the Loneliest Number

By

Christy Lee

Copyright 2001

The air was crisp and clear, as I stood at the mailbox in the early evening. Spring was still just around the corner, yet the setting sun was hot on my face as I gathered the mail. The western highlights were fading into an auburn glow and the eastern scenery was in shadow, waiting the coming of the darkness.

I have always been drawn to the earth and its creatures. They hold a special magic for me. But nothing touches me as the sight and sounds of Canadian geese as they wing their way across the sky in their familiar formation.

There is something inspiring about their haunting call. That clamoring melody never ceases to draw my attention skyward. My eyes search heavenward, straining to catch even a glimpse of their majestic power and beauty. My soul relishes the experience as if it yearns to follow them on their journey. Yet, I am content to know that they are returning home.

They are a herald that announces the rebirth of the earth, and the harbinger that warns of impending winter. Yet, in the very fact that year after year, they return, retracing their seasonal paths, they give hope that our world continues to exist and flourish. They provide assurance that there have been millenniums of yesterdays, and despite our problems, there remain millenniums of tomorrows.

However, on this day, it was not a flock of raucous geese that drew my eyes skyward, but the single, lonely, searching cry of a single goose as it made its solitary way north. There is something forlorn and aching at the sight of just one--A reminder of how tenuous life is.

It certainly provided me a moment of pause, as it cried out, straining to call up a reply from somewhere down below. As its wings beat the crisp air effortlessly and its hollow voice rippled in the beckoning sunset, a wave of sadness rolled over me, sending an uneasiness that settled like lead upon my soul.

Like the goose, our souls cry out for companionship. Life is meant to be shared. Going it alone was never the plan, yet many of us lose our way or stumble and get left behind. For many of us, finding and keeping companionship becomes one of the most difficult tasks we have been compelled to undertake. The trail is fraught with pain and disappointment yet we trudge on, straining to hear a voice that will mark the end of our journey.

As I hear that lonely cry and watch the goose disappear overhead, it reminds me of how tenuous and fragile relationships are. It reminds me of the struggle and the rewards that wait for those who fight the good fight and never give up hope.

One never knows what lies just around the corner, or over the next rise. The goose will eventually arrive at its destination, regardless of its aloneness now, for life goes on and nothing stays the same. Somewhere ahead a flock of geese has arrived at their destination and when he links up with them, the ordeal will have been forgotten.

It is not the destination that matters--it is the journey. We will reach many destinations in our lifetime. What matters is how we live each day of that journey. We live. We die. It is what we do in between that gives us purpose.

The goose was never really alone as it passed overhead, for I was watching its struggle, I was listening to its cries, and I was sharing its quest to find its companions. It didn’t know I was there, but I was, just the same. My soul went out to its plight and hoped for its success. I even yearned to join it as it made its way north. But that was not to be. Yes, like the goose, who flies over head and never looks down at those watching from below, I believe that no matter how alone we feel, we are as alone as we choose.

People pass through our life every day, some for a moment, some for a day, some for longer, yet we still feel isolated. We are just so focused on what is right in front of us that, we fail to look around us and acknowledge those who are passing by.

We fail to stop and share that moment with them. We loose sight of those around us, looking only to what we perceive as important. And, in doing so, we miss valuable opportunities to feel the connections that are there, just waiting for us.

We focus on earning a living, going to church, scurrying here and there with kids and pets. Having done that, we pass by many who would have been there for us, if we had just stopped moving for a moment--planting our feet firmly on the ground.

Looking to the future can be a great motivational tool. It is important to have a goal in mind. However, living in the future, waiting for that future to happen, can cause us to miss out on what is happening right this moment.

As we go through out life, people come and go, but if we just stop for a moment and make contact, it can become one of the most rewarding moments of our lives. Whether it is the paper boy who delivers the newspaper, the mechanic, the grocery clerk, or the elderly widow down the street, each has a gift and a life to share, if we but stop and engage them in conversation. You might be surprised at the results!

And when you are feeling alone, look around and see if someone is looking back at you. A smile, an acknowledgment, a brief "hello", can make all the difference in the world.