Loneliness

Walking the path of contemplation risks the reach of the mist as it drags you into the quagmire of the swamp. The boundary between solitude and loneliness can be grey. The condition of an aging man as he holds on to the established routines of productivity always aware of the gravitational pull to the place of diminished relevance. Your knuckles turn white in a desperate grip, fully aware of the futility. Desperation reaches a feverish pitch as you cast the line hoping to snag the adventure that gives meaning to your performance. I have never been a good actor.

In these times, a fellow explorer is needed. An open ear and quiet mouth, fully indoctrinated in the turbulent experiences etched deep in the heart. What matters most is the nod to your quest, not questions of intent and caution. The risks of no action dwarf the alternatives. Understanding such complexities demand knowledge of the soul’s carnage from the battlefield of life. Such a warrior – a survivor – demands new adventures to stoke the fires that smolder deep within.

Too many men walk this path alone. Solitude has its place, but this is not one of them. As the turbulent waters of this age rock all boats, is it surprising that so many men act in quiet desperation, whether it be in a bottle or worse? Rise up and scream, demand your space, your new quests. Embrace your strength as an individual man on a unique adventure. But for God’s sake, understand the difference between being a free and strong man from a lonely man who risks the abyss.