You can impact even when you're alone (Source: Kevin)
On Saturday, I took a nap.
I didn’t wake up until 3:23 am. And yes, that felt weird.
Once I woke up, I couldn’t go back to sleep because I’d been out for about 12 hours. So what’s a guy to do in the middle of the night?
Have you been in a similar situation? Perhaps not napping the day away but where you find yourself alone and not sure what to do?
I’ve had this post in mind for a couple weeks but didn’t write it up because it seemed too boring, too elementary. I didn’t think anyone wanted to hear these suggestions since they’re very not new.
The other night, though, when I didn’t know what to do, these four tools came to mind. I thought,Wow, this is actually helping me right now – perhaps others will get some value out of it as well.
If you remember these four simple practices, not just know them (you already know them), I think you’ll get a lot more out of this.
1. Pick up the phone
[For daytime, real time interaction]
Almost everyone has a cell phone now. And even if they don’t, they’re probably not too far from one. I’d guess that cells are even more common than land lines now. Either way, phones are everywhere.
So break out your phone and say hey.
I know I’ve definitely slacked on this one. I don’t usually call because I don’t have anything specific to say. That doesn’t matter – call anyway, even if it seems pointless. Send some encouragement.
For me at 3:23 am, this wasn’t much of an option, though it did come to mind.
2. Hop on the Internet (’cause surfing it is so ’90s) 
[For anytime, almost real time interaction when you have an online connection]
I could go on and on about this one. As you know, I thrive in this space and still feel I’ve not even touched its potential.
When I say the Internet, I mean the Internet in all its glory:
- Social media: Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube, Myspace (?), and so on.
- Email, AIM, Skype, Google Wave (if you know what you’re doing over there)
- Forums: find a Christian forum and offer your encouragement or a forum in one on one of your interests and offer your help.
- Blogs (start one of your own) and comments.
Someone’s always available online if you’re not selfish enough. Create some content and start a conversation around it. Care.
Even at 3:23 am on a Sunday morning, I found a couple people to interact with.
3. Write a letter
[For deep interaction when you can make enough time to do it]
The wonderful thing about all these is that each minister in different ways. The phone is personal and emotional – the Internet is wide. I like to think of letters as deep.
You can say in a letter what you could never say on the phone or even in person. You can be succinct.
I’ve learned more from letters than any other form of communication, from the letters I sent to my grandma when I was seven to the continued correspondence I keep with my friends and mentors. If you’re slacking in this area, don’t.
Start with a simple Thank You.
4. Pray for a friend (or enemy)
[For everywhere, anytime intercession (even in solitary confinement)]
When Corrie ten Boom (if you don’t know who she is, you definitely need to check out her testimony through the Holocaust) became too old to travel and speak, she grew depressed. How can God use me as powerfully now? she thought.
Shortly after, she spoke with Joni Eareckson Tada (if you don’t know who she is, you also need to check out her autobiography). Joni told Corrie that even though she could no longer travel to speak to people, she could speak to God for people.
That became Corrie’s new ministry. (Why’s it always second string?)
If Corrie ten Boom, who prayed to thank God for lice in a Nazi concentration camp because they kept the guards out of the room while she shared Christ with fellow prisoners… if she can forget about the power of prayer, you and I can (and do) too.
But if she can re-realize the importance of prayer, you and I can too.
Mix ‘em up
Now that I’ve reminded you (and myself) about these four practices, we can also mix and match them. Two examples:
- Write a letter and send it as a facebook message
- Pray for your friend on the phone
What other mixes can you try?
You and I know about all four of these and even some of the mixes. They’re not new. But we forget. I’m not writing this to tell you something new – I’m writing this to remind you that when you’re alone, when you wake up in the middle of the night after a nap, you don’t have to stop serving.
God’s brilliant like that – He makes ways. He reminded me to write this for you at 3:23 am. What about you?
Serving Suggestions:
(1) Are you alone right now? Why not try one of these. <<That’s not a question. If you’re not alone, remember these for when you are.
(2) What other suggestions do you have?
Twitter Updates
I realized yesterday that Sundays have become my letter writing day. Whenever Sunday rolls around, one of the few days I’m alone, I can always think of at least one person to write to. I’m hoping to keep it up.
That’s a fantastic practice, Sarah. I wish I could convince everyone to write at least once a month. Once a week is totally cool.
I too have liked building a rhythm into it, instead of just writing when I feel like it. I find I tend to “feel like it” more when I make a habit out of it. Same with blogging, really.
-Marshall Jones Jr.
good things to think about, because i tend to forget to do some of the simplest things.
That’s me too… and I would guess everyone else. Most of life is about remembering to do what we planned to do, not learning to do new stuff per se.
-Marshall Jones Jr.
Dude. I am ONLY alone at work and about once every couple months at home. NEVER could I take a twelve hour nap. Not even in the normal sleep hours
Marriage and children puts an entirely different perspective on this.
I hear you. The post originally had a paragraph about how this post definitely won’t apply to everyone. I ditched it because I figured most of these post don’t apply to EVERYONE.
On a slightly different note, and I try to avoid hating on people, but one of the dumbest things in the world is when people say they’re bored. I’ve written about it a number of times on my personal blog… I almost never have nothing to do. It’s hard to even understand having nothing to do anymore… I have to think back a couple years. I’m not sure that’s a good thing.
I love how this goes in stages though. When you’re young, you’re money poor but time rich. The older you get, the more that turns around (usually).
Perhaps I should write a post about how to serve others when you don’t even have time to pick up a thousand dollar bill. :>)
-Marshall Jones Jr.
I would say going to other people’s blogs and leaving comments helps. I use facebook alot more than I used too but I believe this is because a lot of my friends are starting to discover it.
When I am alone I cherish the quiet moments. That’s an introvert for you.
Excellent point. I’ve tried to get out and comment on blogs more often over the past couple months. February was crazy though – hopefully I can get back into the swing of things.
Facebook is like that. It only works if others are involved and engaged. I think that’s why it took off so well by starting at colleges. LinkedIn on the other hand is too disconnected. Facebook is winning because it starts with connecting to people you know well and goes from there.
I’m also with you on enjoying the quiet moments. I could spend hours by myself, meditating and thinking. Over the past year or so, though, I’ve tried to stretch out more and become more of a producer than a consumer… to give more than take for myself. It’s definitely a stretch.
-Marshall Jones Jr.
As a daughter to a father in a nursing home, a sister, a wife, a mother to seven, a grandmother to seven (going on nine), a high school teacher, and a blogger/writer, my days are full of activity. I cherish the time I have to myself, and I currently am using some of that time to make new friends like you, Marshall. I thoroughly enjoy connecting with people online and sharing the love of God with them.
I so agree with your 4th point. The desire of my heart is that everyone will know, experience, and manifest God’s absolute love. I started praying for this many years ago, and my prayers have only grown stronger.
Thanks for sharing from your heart!
Thank you for sharing in the comments. I’m consistently amazed how much closer I become to people when I pray for them. My interaction directly with them might not change at all, but the time I spend interacting with God about them and for them makes a tremendous difference when I do interact with them directly.
So it’s a double bonus: you and I can use prayer to draw closer to God and others. It doesn’t get much better than that.
-Marshall Jones Jr.
Great points!
I especially like the letter writing and internet communicating ideas.
Another useful activity would be reading. Although reading is not directly serving others, it does prepare you for better service by helping you grown in knowledge.
During most of the week, I enjoy reading the Bible, nonfiction (mostly history) and occasional fiction (G. A. Henty). On Sundays, I try to stick with the Bible and theology books (Gordon Clark & John Robbins).
Reading is a major part of my life, and it has really helped me grow as a Christian man.
Thanks again for the excellent post!
Fantastic add, Nate.
I’ve been meaning to do an “Others-oriented reading” (or something like that) post for a while. I’m a big reader too, and I’ve found more and more that, if done in the right way, it can totally help me in serving others. Thank for bringing it up (you’ll probably see this come up in a post soon).
-Marshall Jones Jr.
Thanks for your reply! I will be looking forward to reading your post about reading!
- Nate Desmond
I’m looking forward to reading it too.
-Marshall Jones Jr.