Aloneness

Dave Canovas

I believe there are three kinds of aloneness.

The first is the solitude you experience during a quiet morning walk, noticing everything from the mundane to the extraordinary around you. In this state, your emotions may shift between apathy and fleeting happiness—a peaceful yet transient form of aloneness.

The second kind is when you appear outwardly calm, yet chaos brews within. Oblivious to your surroundings, you are consumed by the voices in your head—self-critical, introspective, or even prideful. This type of aloneness can lead to emotional outbursts, cravings, or obsessions, but it may also spark moments of creativity and productivity.

The third and most challenging form is being alone and lonely. This is the kind of aloneness that breaks hearts. It occurs when you feel disconnected from the world, believing your life is as insignificant as a speck of dust. Some struggle to emerge from this deep solitude.

Yet, of all these phases, being alone and lonely holds the potential to be the most liberating. When you strip away all worldly attachments, you may come to realize that there is one constant presence—God. He stands by you, becoming the only world truly worth keeping.

Even Jesus experienced a poignant moment of aloneness before His crucifixion, praying in the Garden of Gethsemane as His disciples slept. As He foresaw His impending betrayal and death, He pleaded, “Father…remove this cup.” In this moment of profound anguish, we see a glimpse of our own struggles mirrored in Him.

But Jesus endured. His resurrection is a powerful reminder that we are never truly alone in our loneliness or suffering.

No matter how deep our pain, Jesus is always at the center of it, offering hope and companionship.