There are so many images in the psalms! This passage paints a picture of physical pain and stress and then compares the writer to an owl or lonely bird.
Loneliness is another great mental health epidemic of our times. The United Kingdom even has a Ministry of Loneliness to address the isolation of many of their people. This applies especially to seniors who may have grown up in large households but now find themselves living alone without much outside contact.
I grew up in a small home with four siblings. We seldom had “alone time.” Now people expect to have their own rooms to use as a retreat to be alone. Even out in shared spaces, we see headphones or earbuds so interaction with others is inhibited. How can we see the distress of others if we are each in our own silo? We need to be open to hear the voices of those in distress around us and show them the face of God.
God, help us to be open to the cries of others and to be your ambassadosr in this world. Amen. —