Loneliness is something many people quietly carry. Jayme and Steve take a closer look at what loneliness really means—not just being alone, but feeling unseen, unheard, or disconnected even in the middle of a crowd, and then they turn to an unexpected but deeply meaningful connection: the stories of author Gene Stratton-Porter.

As the youngest of twelve on a bustling farm family, Gene grew up with plenty of solitude. But instead of crushing her spirit, her lonely hours in the Limberlost swamp gave her a deep love of nature and a way to belong. Through stories like Freckles, she showed how nature could heal wounds and reveal our truest identity. This episode invites listeners to see the Limberlost not just as a swamp, but as a place of spiritual awakening— where loneliness transforms into belonging, hope, and meaning.

READ BY: Chelsea Frandsen Brown

SOURCES:

What is Causing Our Epidemic of Loneliness and How Can We Fix It? by Elizabeth M. Ross (Harvard Graduate School of Education)

Gene Stratton Porter (Our Land, Our Literature, from Ball State University)

Faith and Flourishing in Your Life and Work by Paul W. Lambert (BYU Speeches)

Freckles by Gene Stratton-Porter