Words of Hope: Navigating Loneliness
I would really love to have a conversation with my dad about loneliness. I never asked him if he struggled feeling lonely.
The main definition of loneliness is a feeling of being disconnected. I can’t think of a more disconnected global time I have personally experienced. This feeling of being out of step with what is truly happening with others.
I experience more lonely people than ever before as I travel. I am struck by the profound loneliness on high school and college campuses. It is truly epidemic.
I don’t know if Dad felt lonely, but I know Dad did remarkable things with creating connection. He connected to people daily. He called his brothers every day. He was constantly reaching out. He did it in ways that were not needy but encouraging and meaningful. I find I want others to connect with me to fill me up. Instead, Dad connected with the mission of filling others. He connected by offering words like tiny treasures or little verbal gifts given out generously every single day.
How healed I felt by his gifts of connection! What an example of living with the intention to combat global loneliness through daily generosity of loving connection!
Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. – Galatians 6:2
