Are you lonesome tonight?

What are you doing tonight? More importantly perhaps, who will you be with? According to a recent survey, those between the ages of 25 to 34 are more likely to feel lonely compared with those of other generations (http://www.smh.com.au/lifestyle/wellbeing/generation-y-so-connected-but-oh-so-lonely-survey-20110719-1hn6a.html). While some may argue that loneliness is the status quo of the 30s and rail against the ‘social construct’ which demands ‘normal’ people be in some sort of relationship or another, others compensate their lack of social activity by utilising technology to meet and interact with other people.  In the same article, social researcher Hugh Mackay warns however, that too much reliance on electronic relationships could be detrimental and socialising in the real (physical) world is necessary for healthy social development.

Another interesting report from the ABC (http://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-07-21/australian-men-living-with-realdolls/2802302) seems to indicate that loneliness could be more widespread that we know. For some middle aged men (or at least they are in the article anyway), meeting the right woman has been difficult and elusive so they consort (both um, literally and figuratively), with uh, dolls. And these are quite ‘special’ dolls too! Not just in the price department ($8,500 a pop) but also in terms of anatomical correctness (yes, all of it). Still, one owner insists that his relationship is entirely platonic saying, ‘I do actually enjoy their company. I don’t think people truly can appreciate that element.’ Hmmm.

As Christians, what should our response be to this epidemic of loneliness? Are our congregations warm and welcoming? Perhaps more importantly what are WE doing to help make our churches more warm and welcoming? As followers of Jesus, we can see that all sorts of people were made to feel welcome in his presence (Mark 2:15-17). How can we follow His example? A church in Sydney recently asked everyone in the congregation to write down what they thought best described their group. Most prominent of all the words was “Community”. For them, church was a place where they would always feel loved, accepted and welcome, a place where they truly felt like brothers in sisters in the family of God. And who wouldn’t want to be a part of that?