{"id":6207,"date":"2024-09-16T16:01:25","date_gmt":"2024-09-16T22:01:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/davidrupert\/?p=6207"},"modified":"2024-09-16T16:01:25","modified_gmt":"2024-09-16T22:01:25","slug":"all-the-lonely-people","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/davidrupert\/all-the-lonely-people\/","title":{"rendered":"All the lonely people"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>

We are a lonely people.<\/p>\n

While money buys automobiles, homes, and clothes, it ultimately buys isolation.\u00a0Without this wealth, we would once again learn interdependence on each other. We would learn the meaning of borrowing a cup of sugar, of helping a neighbor out of a predicament, of community.<\/p>\n

This isolation has led to untold problems. We have built fences around our castles, avoiding any neighborly contact with the push of a garage door opener. We enter these castles eating quick heat dinners and hovering over computer screens without connection to our fellow man.<\/p>\n

Yesterday, we went to a veteran\u2019s celebration with a live band and music, a fundraiser for a Medal of Honor statute. We were just one of six people in attendance. Someone commented that rather than escape to a beautiful day with like-minded people it was more convenient to stay home.<\/p>\n

COVID-19 forced us all indoors and some of us never came out. We work from home. We don\u2019t go to church anymore. We rarely attend public functions.<\/p>\n

This is not healthy.<\/p>\n

Remember the Iraqi man who hid 22 years in a wall<\/a> that he built inside his home, running from Saddam Hussein\u2019s death squads? But he is like so many of us. Rather than face the world, dangerous and frightening it may be, we choose to live in our prisons. The light of day passes with nary a nod of acknowledgment, for we are captives of the dark.<\/p>\n

How many men have run from relationships, their superhero complex keeping them from intimacy? How many women have built up a legion of acquaintances yet avoided true friendship?<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Many of us try to fill the hollow ache inside with activity, filling our waking moments with parties, leisure, and travel. But one look in the mirror reflects the sadness.<\/p>\n

Reaching out to fill the holes in our souls, we find nothing. So we doubt our self-worth, push ourselves away from others, and burrow in a world that no one can understand.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Creative Commons Image from pxhere<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Loneliness cannot be overcome with companionship; otherwise, a dog would fit the bill. Walking down a busy city street can be among the loneliest activities if you don\u2019t know anyone.<\/p>\n

Proverbs 18.10 says, \u201cA man of many companions will come to ruin.\u201d But it goes on to say, \u201cthere is a friend that sticks closer than a brother.\u201d
\n<\/em><\/p>\n

What do you think the solution is?<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

This isolation has led to untold problems. We have built fences around our castles, avoiding any neighborly contact with the push of a garage door opener. We enter these castles eating quick heat dinners and hovering over computer screens without connection to our fellow man.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2375,"featured_media":6210,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-6207","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"\nAll the lonely people<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"This isolation has led to untold problems. We have built fences around our castles, avoiding any neighborly contact with the push of a garage door opener. 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