A while back, I read that in Japan, folks can avoid the pains of loneliness by renting fake
friends. (I can’t even imagine what a coffee date with fake friends would be like!)
But then I came across a more recent article in The Christian Post, by Stonestreet and
Carico, that indicates “chronic loneliness carries the same mortality rate as smoking 15
cigarettes a day.” That same article went on to say that people who are socially
disconnected face up to a 29% higher risk of premature death.
Loneliness is a huge issue plaquing our nation.
Psychologists and sociologists can outline a long list of reasons behind the growing
isolation of teens and adults. But one of them caught my eye. It referred to the closures
of locations called “third places.” These are gathering spots that are outside of our
homes or workspaces. They might be a church, a coffee shop or a theater or a library or
a rec center-anywhere where people congregate and share life.
If you think about it, those kinds of gathering spots are indeed disappearing. Our ability
to be in the same place with other human beings is eroding. We are quickly becoming a
nation of “solitaires and couch potatoes.”
So, what can you and I do about it?
Well, we can start by inviting our friends (old and new) for a cup of coffee, sticking our
phones in our pockets and looking folks in the eye. Sit down. Ask questions. Share
burdens and prayer requests. Find things to laugh about.
And then we can begin to emphasize the importance of our churches. The church is a
perfect antidote for socially detached people. Our faith may indeed be personal, but it
was never meant to be private.
The early church in Acts 2 is a great example of what the “called out assembly” is meant
to be: “they had everything in common…they broke bread and ate together…they
praised God and enjoyed the favor of all the people…”
Prayerfully, that is what our churches are like today. We share our beliefs. We worship
together. We mention our challenges and encourage each other. We highlight our recent
blessings. We care for one another.
So, this week, let’s all look around our world and find someone who is “sitting alone in
the lunchroom” of life. Let’s invite them over, share a meal and a fun story. And listen.
Maybe they will live longer! (Maybe we will too!)