“Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken…” (Ecc 4:12).
I used to believe that I would rather stay home and hide away from the world than interact with people, who can be unpredictable and judgmental.
In my early twenties, I put this belief to the test when I lived in a foreign country and did, indeed, rarely leave my home for a brief time. Because I didn’t know anyone at first, I was afraid to leave my apartment to go to the store or church alone. However, loneliness quickly set in, so I ventured out and made some very good friends that I still keep in touch with today.
Many of us have allowed social media to take the place of real interaction. We have hundreds of friends online, but we don’t really know any of them. While social media has many benefits, it cannot take the place of a true relationship – one in which you are able to be your true self.
It’s simple. We were not made to be alone. According to Genesis 2:18, “The Lord God said, ‘It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.’” Jesus cultivated intimate relationships with twelve disciples while he was here on earth, and after his death and resurrection, they supported each other as they proclaimed the Gospel. As we face difficulties in life, we rely on the support of our family and friends.
In this time of the COVID-19 pandemic, the fractured nature of our relationships has become even more apparent. If you are one of those who has closed yourself off from others, consider this holiday season as a time to reach out and renew a friendship. You don’t have to meet in person to renew a friendship, and in fact, a face-to-face meeting may not be possible due to distance or safety reasons. Just pick up the phone and call. Hearing another person’s voice can do wonders to lift your spirits and restore your hope.
Dear Jesus, we yearn for deeper connection than we can get through social media. The pandemic has amplified our loneliness and aloneness. I pray for the courage to reach out to one friend during this holiday season and to be my authentic self with her. Amen.
Before telephones, people wrote to communicate, like we do online but also different from what we do online. Letters would take days or weeks to arrive. More thought went into the words and more consideration into the content. Old letters are documents I treasure.
I agree! My paternal grandmother lived in Nevada and I lived in Oklahoma. She was my first pen pal. We were both shy, quiet people who didn’t have much to say on the phone, but the words flowed freely in our letters to each other.