CHRISTOS ANESTI! When I went to college, Wayne State University, in Detroit, I was pursuing a theatre career, until the Lord changed my plans. I’ve always had an interest in the stage and now that I’m semi-retired, with more free time, I was encouraged to audition for a role in a world premiere play, “Libertaire, The Play”, the story of how the Statue of Liberty was gifted to the United States. The playwright, who serves with me on the American Federation of Greek Language and Culture board was convinced I would be perfect for an important role in the play. With His Eminence’s blessing, I accepted the challenge and was cast as the character of Edouard Laboulaye, a French statesman and poet, who was the inspiring mentor to the sculptor, Auguste Bartholdi. After working with the other actors in this show, I realize how much we need each other, to be a caring and supportive friend, a team, in order to have a successful and cohesive performance.
A star of stage, screen and TV is Barbara Streisand, a most talented performer, singing one of her best songs in the production of “Funny Girl”. The line “People, who need people, are the luckiest people of all”, reminds me that actors must work together, interacting with each other, no matter if the role played is major or minor. Having been involved with Arthur Miller’s “The Death of a Salesman”, I recall that the lead character, Willy Loman was depicted by his wife, when she tells the son to be kind to his father, as “a small boat looking for a large harbor.” He’s a person who needs people and real friendship. Even God, when He created the perfect place, Paradise, realized that He lacked fellowship, and created Adam and Eve.
In the Gospel lesson of the Paralytic, which is read on the third Sunday following Pascha, the paralytic is lonely waiting by the Pool of Bethesda for someone to help him. “People, who need people…” He was not “the luckiest people of all”! When Jesus asked him, “Do you want to be healed?” he replied, “I have no man to put me into the pool.” Just think 38 years of loneliness, without a friend! No team work!
There are many ways to experience loneliness. There is loneliness of losing a loved one, of the sick room, of dying, of divorce, of the self-centered; the loneliness of non-conformity, of standing by a conviction, of strained relations, of having to make an important decision; the loneliness of adolescence, of older people; and the loneliness of those who do not believe in God.
Can anything be done about loneliness, is there a cure? Actually, there are two cures, false and real. A false cure can destroy us and leave us alone again. There was an advertisement placed in a newspaper which read: “I will listen to you talk for 30 minutes without interruption for $10.00.” It may sound like a scam, but the person was serious. He began receiving 10 to 20 calls a day. The pain of loneliness is so terrible that people are willing to try anything for a half hour of companionship. We ask, therefore, who was lonely; the person placing the advertisement or the people who called? “People, who need people…”
What then is the real cure? There are many steps that can be taken to help loneliness. If you are lonely, could you be the cause of your loneliness, because of self-pity and self-centeredness? Pray to be in the companionship of Christ and listen to what He may be saying to you through your loneliness. Participate in the sacramental life of the Church and deal a death blow to loneliness. Then, begin to build bridges to other people. Speak to a special friend about your loneliness. Today, Presvytera received a call from a lonely lady friend, elderly and mostly home-bound, crying because her grandson, who was with her for some time, had left two weeks ago on an extended business trip expecting to return this week, but called her saying that it would be another week before he would return; she would continue to be without fellowship and lonely. How many people do we know like this? What can you do? Simple, make time to make a visit or use the ministry of the phone, it still works. Reach out to touch someone, helping them into the symbolic Pool of Bethesda; developing a relationship of friendship. “Be like the redwood tree and don’t stand alone.”
Allow me to end with another song: “When you walk through a storm, hold your head up high…You’ll never walk alone.” There are times when we must walk alone or meet some situation alone, but at such times we will not feel alone when we realize that God is with us, at all times, in all places, through every experience as our Savior, our guide and our loving counselor. Know that you do not walk alone, but walk with your best friend, who befriended the Paralytic in the Gospel, healing him and giving him friendship, Jesus. I hope that during the play, if I forget a line, and let’s hope I don’t, my fellow cast member show me I’m the “luckiest person of all”!