By Brenda Black
There was a time of back porch
singing. Aunts, uncles, cousins and kinfolk of every generation
gathered regularly. Relatives grew up in the same neighborhood or
trickled throughout a county. Family and childhood friends remained
near, available to lend a hand when needed. The modern era looks
considerably different. It is one of isolation and intentional
independence. Families scatter across the globe and cousins are those
people you meet every ten years at a dreaded reunion of strangers.
Sure, there are means of immediate
contact no matter the geographical distance. Still, a warm hug or
firm handshake is hard to acquire through cyberspace. A reassuring
look or knowing advice often comes after the fact, diminishing it's
timely significance. Spontaneous laughter or a trail of conversation
that meanders through family jokes and legacies is hard to recreate
apart from direct contact and in-the-moment opportunities.
Humans were created to connect.
Science confirms the necessity of community and some have determined
that survival of the fittest is not all it's cracked up to be if it
means you are left alone in your particular species. Cooperation, not
just competition and selfishness, is critical to survival. And that
means knowing your neighbors as well as the relatives.
It took a thesis, and a group of
neuroscientists, anthropologists and psychologists years of study to
discover the importance of community. Oddly enough, God invented our
need for others as one of His fundamental aspects of creation
--present since the foundation of time. He designed us to desire
fellowship, then God established the bonds of marriage and instituted
the network of family according to that masterful design. Christ
modeled fellowship and friendship, while the Holy Spirit was imparted
for constant companionship. We were never intended to be alone.
Community is critical to families and
neighbors. It's also imperative in days of convenient techno
isolation. Interaction is a fleeting social skill being lost by a
generation that would rather bond with a blog, tweet, post or pin,
than play catch with the neighbor kid or learn from a grandparent.
Can we just make eye contact, PLEASE, once again, and stop talking to
each other through a selfie, quick-witted fingers or the top of our
downward tilted heads!
Loneliness is the consequence for
indifference toward humanity, family ties, or the people next door,
whom you've never met. Loneliness is the by-product from
technologically connected, but emotionally disconnected people. One
day we'll wake up and find we know no one who truly knows us, unless
we connect in real time, real ways, with real emotions and human
touch. When you need someone in a moment of tragedy or triumph, who
are you going to call? With whom will you share your sorrow and
grief? How can you celebrate exciting news if you don't have people –
crucial, important, loving people in your life? Trust me, a facebook
follower or fellow blogger won't be enough. You're going to long for
someone to be close and genuine. One day, when you finally have the
time to sit on the porch, I hope you aren't still looking at your
phone.
We are a community, we are family, we
are people, and we need each other desperately.
The Word's Out - Brenda Black 2015©
