Fr. Frank Majka, SJ – The Bridge

Advent 2009: Walking the Valley

There’s a wonderful gospel song that says:

You’ve got to walk that lonesome valley,
You gotta go there by yourself.
Nobody else can walk it for you.
You gotta walk it by yourself.

It’s an American religious song for sure, for there’s something very solitary about us, and it’s one of our national traits that we don’t like the feeling of being dependent on others.

But it’s also true that that nobody can live without being connected with other people. We may want to go it alone, but trying to live a completely private life is impossible, and probably dangerous for our souls.

This week of Advent may be a good time to think about all the connections we have to one another, and all those who keep us company on our walk towards God. And ask yourself if there’s anything you can do to make someone else’s walk through life less lonesome.