Loneliness

I'm looking into a religious book on loneliness. It says loneliness can lead to creativity, connections to other humans and ultimately God. In Graceland, my husband and I stayed at The Heartbreak Hotel. "I get so lonely, I could die." Such a heartbreaking line. Can a heart break from loneliness? There are certain medical conditions where people seemed to die of loneliness. Spouses die soon after each other. A friend's cat once jumped in front of a car soon after its mate had been hit. Is death our final solution to the loneliness deep in our souls that can only be interpreted as a longing for God's love? Of course, we cling to other human souls, as flawed and seemingly incapable of divine love as ourselves. Those we admire usually show more of a divine capacity than we see in ourselves. Saints seem to have learned how to tap into God's love and share it with us. We all are capable. It's who we're supposed to be. Even tapping into it wouldn't be completely without loneliness, though. Loneliness seems to be both the way to access it and the obstacle to it. We pray in a quiet place of solitude. Even while praying in groups, people tend to go into a state of lonely meditation. All saints and those of great spiritual achievement seem to have been somewhat tragic and alone in the world. Maybe with real love, the more you give away the more you get, but only to be given away. You are a vehicle, nothing is actually for you. But, being closely connected to God, you wouldn't have it any other way. It's a peaceful loneliness. The kind that kills must be a selfish loneliness. It's the effort of clinging to divine love that corrupts it and kills you. Learning to let it flow through you freely is what gives you a healthy, useful life. If you get really disciplined, you probably feel love more fully the more you give. No need to have it returned.