Look Up and Out: The Art of Being Human series - Christian Lindbeck

Isolated islands,
we dig deeper moats
the closer we crowd
together.
Shields up,
walled into class cubes,
we feel
no touch
upon our needy skin.

We are the lonely.

Reaching out 
short circuits
when fitting in boxes
is required
and claustrophobic
corsets misshape our souls.

We are the lonely.

Created to fit together,
we long for the other
to warm and weather gales with -
a forest stands
long after the lone tree falls.

Hustling about our busy way,
we gloss and ice over
interactions,
skimming the surface
and avoiding deep dives
at all cost.
Celebrated strong and silent
types are one-dimensional
facades,
made simpler to maintain
by selfies posted
in various poses
suggesting
intimacy. 

Curling inward 
is instinctive
when wounded,
but becomes a 
deformity when
maintained.

Hold out a hand,
open a door -
expect to receive a gift
with whoever
walks in.
Require no dress code
or masks -
let us see your mess
and imperfect attempts
to follow Christ.
Perfectly polished
performances
push connections
aside.
Look up and out.
Choose to be open
to whoever the wind
of God
blows in.

We are the lonely.
We are the thousands
who walk alone
in your midst.
Look around.
See us.
Invite us in.