For When You Suffer Alone

Ask

If loneliness or loss could be felt as a specific pain in a specific part of your body, where would you feel it? In your stomach? Your throat? Just take a few minutes to notice.

Reflect

Pray the breath prayer below for yourself, sensing the truth of your situation, and peace that comes when it is fully acknowledged and shared. Then turn your thoughts to someone else who may be feeling lonely, and pray the breath prayer for that person. Sit awhile calmly with the awareness of their situation. Perhaps something will come to mind as to how you could reach out to them.

Pray

Inhale: God, turn to me and be gracious to me,

Inhale: Relieve the troubles of my heart,

Exhale: for I am lonely and afflicted.

Exhale: and free me from my anguish.