My weekly mornings include listening to Dr. Albert Mohler. He has the most thought provoking in sties. Yesterday he talked about an article in the Financial Times newspaper our of London, so this is his findings along with my thoughts & feelings. I surely do not want to plagiarize so understand I’m talking about Dr Mohler’s comments.
The article is by Beth Stanton, and she talks about attending an event which she found by using an app developed to bring together people (focusing on large cities) who are experiencing loneliness.
The app, according to Ms. Stanton, goal is to address combat loneliness, depression issues and broken families. Perhaps, broken families. We know that there is much brokenness in families. Loneliness is deadly; we were not designed to be alone. I know of several people who have no family that they connect with. This is sad and deadly. I need my people, whether it is my church family or my natural family. I believe we all need our people, although, some deny needing anyone, they are just lying to themselves. How sad that we must resort to this kind of thing.
I’m sure loneliness exist in large cities, but I think it also exist in rural areas. One can be lonely even in a crowd. When someone is in a new area & has not connected where do they go to find friendships? Who do they turn to. In our society the neighbors are not always willing to connect new people to the neighborhood. Maybe they think the new person might be private people, maybe they are busy with their own families & activities. We just don’t know the reason. So many times, these folks will head out to the bar to find companionship. Not often will they head to the church unless they are invited. And at the bar they will certainly be accepted & embraced. So where is the church? We must connect with others, especially those who are new to our community as well as our existing neighbors. We never know what is going on in another person’s life; what their needs are, how their heart may be broken, how lonely they are. And not just on a “hello” basis, we must make connections that matter, that help people know we genuinely care and will make time to listen & be there for them. I’m so thankful for my people and I hope you have “your people”. If you don’t, reach out to someone, reach out to me.
