A Brave New World

Recently, as I sat in a doctor’s waiting room, and having a complete lack of anything else to read, I opened a Vogue magazine.  Ordinarily I don’t go anywhere near tabloid or fashion magazines, but sitting still with nothing to do is not one of my strong points.

The article I opened up to proved to be interesting.  It was about the destruction of the family unit as the core of our society in favour of the individual.  This means, in essence, that the needs, wants and desires of the individual are becoming the largest driving factor behind the direction of Western culture.

There were two families highlighted in the article.  Both were married couples, one with children and one without children.  They all spoke about how liberating and wonderful it was to work in different cities, take separate holidays, spend time with their own friends and pursue hobbies - without their spouse.  One woman described Saturday night dinner as the only time she and her husband were in the same place together at the same time.

This led me to thinking about intimacy - more so, the lack of it in nearly all of our relationships today.  Often, we move away from our parents to a different city to go to college or for work.  Indeed, siblings are often far-flung across the globe.  Our busy lives mean that friendships are reduced to 140 characters or Facebook announcements.  Our children are scheduled into so many important commitments that they’re barely at home.  

Interestingly, depression in the 15 - 44 age group is the leading cause of disability while suicide rates are increasing in the same age group, and most frighteningly, is the third most common cause of death amongst those aged 15 - 24.  (www.nmha.org)

A social neuroscientist at the University of Chicago presented a report on loneliness at the American Psychology Association which said that “we are seeing lonliness increase over time...which has repercussions on health and well-being.”  He goes on to say that data suggests that extended periods of loneliness can cause high blood pressure, sleep disorders, and may even lead to dementia in older persons. (www.usatoday.com)

We are commanded in 1 Corinthians 12:25-27 to connect with each other, as a community, as the body of Christ  “so that all members can care for each other equally.  If one part suffers, all the parts suffer with it and if one part is honoured, all the parts are glad.  All of you together are Christ’s body, and each one of you is a separate and necessary part of it.”

We were also created specifically with a need for intimacy.  In Genesis 2:18, God says: “It is not good for man to be alone.”  

Then the next fatality in the march against intimacy - marriage.  A marriage and family that is God-Centered provides comfort, security, love, guidance, and shelter from a world that is often harsh and unforgiving.  A family provides the tools by which a child learns how to form relationships and live in harmony.  A family teaches a child the ways of the Lord.  A marriage lives by example the sacrificial love of the Servant King, Jesus.

Please, make time for your spouse, child, parent, sibling or friend today.  Sit down, look into their eyes and ask: “How are you?”