Rev. Chan Hong Kim, Associate Pastor, Sun Lakes UMC
Elementary school children were grappling with pressing issues in the world. Questions like, “How can we solve the problem of global warming?” or “How can we aid efforts to quit smoking?” were on their minds. However, the most daunting challenge they identified was the pervasive issue of loneliness.
Here are some of the solutions the children proposed: “Find lonely people and ask for their names and addresses. Then ask non-lonely people for their names and addresses. Publish them in the newspaper when the numbers on both lists are equal.” (Kalani, age 8) “Prepare a dish that prompts people to ask, ‘How are you?’ or ‘How was your day?’ when eaten.” (Max, age 9) Perhaps the most heart-wrenching solution for loneliness came from Brian, age 8, who suggested, “Sing. Dance. Read a book. (Whenever I feel like nobody loves me, I do this.)” His perspective reflects the profound difficulty in addressing loneliness, implying a sense of hopelessness in finding a solution.
Mother Teresa once likened loneliness to the “leprosy of the modern world,” acknowledging its stigma and the reluctance of many to admit to experiencing it. Similarly, Jean Vanier observed, “Everyone carries the deep wound of loneliness. We resort to various methods, such as excessive activity or watching television, to escape this overwhelming loneliness.” Nobel Peace Prize winner Albert Schweitzer echoed this sentiment, stating, “We are always together but dying from loneliness.” Loneliness is indeed a pervasive affliction of our time, despite the apparent connectivity facilitated by technology.
In Genesis chapters 1 and 2, during the creation of the universe and humanity, God repeatedly affirmed the goodness of His creation. However, there was one aspect that He deemed not good: Adam’s aloneness. In Genesis 2:18, God remarked, “It is not good for the man to be alone,” indicating His concern for Adam’s solitude. Eden was abundant with various fruit trees and filled with gold and precious stones, yet God was troubled by Adam’s loneliness. This was before the fall, within an intimate relationship where no barriers existed between God and man. Despite this closeness, there remained a palpable void, an emptiness that even God could not fill—a space that could only be completed by the presence of another person.
This narrative suggests that even in a state of spiritual and material fulfillment, human connection remains essential for true fulfillment. It reflects a void within us that cannot be filled by wealth, success, busy activities and events, or even spiritual practices alone. This emptiness, termed “loneliness,” can only be assuaged through meaningful relationships with others. “You shall love your neighbor as yourself” (John 22:39).