I know what it feels like to be alone in a crowd, though I think I imagine it most of the time.

I have Asperger's Syndrome, a mild form of autism. I never had more than 2 or 3 friends at any given time growing up and most of them had their own issues as well. It's not easy and I actually thank God for the Asperger's way of keeping me oblivious to the real teasing and bullying that really was going on. It is very sad that so many have to try to belittle others just for pride and because they are different from them, but that is the way the world thinks.

The only way to truly combat against those that make others outcasts are to change their hearts. And that can only be done through Jesus Christ. I heard a very powerful testimony of a Christian teacher who had a student that was a social outcast and bullied to the point of snapping. This student told the teacher that he was about to kill himself or someone else. Being in a public school, the teacher couldn't talk to him about Christ directly. So instead, he talked to him about forgiveness. When the talk was over, the student very soon came to Christ, forgave the bullies (who had physically assaulted him and were under investigation from the school) and asked that they not get punished. I have to say that totally blows my mind.

God has been teaching me about forgiveness through a fencing presentation that I do and I have to say it is one of the most powerful weapons against darkness that we have. Forgiveness does not mean the other person is going to get away with what they did. It means God is going to handle it his way and that person is either going to get saved or is going to receive God's justice. But what is really scary is unforgiveness. When we refuse to forgive someone who offended us, we bring that responsibility upon ourselves. Often we tell God we won't change until he changes the offender. But what we don't realize is that we are telling God we want to be responsible for changing that person and God will reluctantly oblige. The results are always disastrous. But when we forgive, remember Galatians 6:7. "Do not be deceived. God is not mocked. A man will reap what he sows". And as Dr. Charles Stanley says, "A man will reap what he sows, more than he sows, and later than when he sowed it." So when we forgive, God will give that person what he/she reaped in its due season or he will save that person.

I hope that encourages you.

It does, FencerforJesus. That is very encouraging!

Lu

It is hard to be an outcast. I've never really been in that position but I have been lonley/isolated at times. I can't imagine always having to feel that way.

That happened to me when I was younger because..... you know I don't even know! But I have felt outcast too. One of the best things is to go to Jesus as FencerforJesus said. Don't struggle go and lay it down to Jesus. He will listen. The next best thing is to forgive them for what they have done to you and let them go. Then you should find a group of people who share the same interests as you. I found orchestra in school and it was one of the best things I have ever done! ( excepting Jesus in my heart was the first! ) Those things have helped me. I hope this helps!

I must admit I find this a little difficult. No one enjoys sharing their faults, but I get the feeling this might help someone, so here goes.
I must say that much of my experiences as an outcast were brought upon myself. A bit of a confession here. In watching the Dawn Treader I saw much of who I was in Eustace. Nobody likes a know-it-all, and I fit the bill quite well.
Long story short. Though I had given my life to Christ as a teen I still had a lot of growing to do. It was not until I was a young man that he put me in with a goup of good Christians who were not afraid of showing me some tough love. God cast off the dragon skin by using them. In my case it took a good bit of verbal thumping to get through. Dragon skin is tough stuff. I believe there is a verse in Psalms about the bruses of a friend are preciouse. It doesn't feel like it at the time, but I can say now that they truly are.

I felt like an outcast sometimes when I was a kid. I was really quiet and never liked noise and loud games or what not, other kids would occasionally bully me or ask me if I could talk at all since I was so quiet .
I can't tell you how many times people will still joke around and say something like "you're being too loud there, haha", it's always irritated me.
But, turns out many of my relatives are the same way, it's nice to talk to them about it sometimes, makes me realize I wasn't the only non-hyper kid after all.