“He who scattered Israel will gather them and will guard them as a shepherd his flock. For the Lord will ransom Jacob, redeem him from one too strong for him. They shall come and shout on the heights of Zion, radiant over the bounty of the Lord; over new grain and oil, and over sheep and cattle, they shall fare like a watered garden, they shall never languish again. Then shall maidens dance gaily, your men and old alike. I will turn their mourning to joy, I will comfort them and cheer them in their grief. I will give them priests their fill of fatness, and my people shall enjoy my full bounty.”
Jeremiah 31:10-14
A Need for comfort
I was watching international news yesterday and there was a report about internet scamming in Nigeria. In this report, there were a few people interviewed about scamming Americans specifically.
One man interviewed talked about how easy it was to scam Americans because, “they are lonely.” I found this very interesting because, apparently, this is a widely known fact and many Americans have had their loneliness manipulated in multiple ways at home and abroad.
Loneliness is real! I’m sure many people that we regard as “mentally ill” are possibly just at their tipping point from severe loneliness and neglect. We can love our neighbor like we’re looking in the mirror and give comfort when needed. Let’s do it!
I think we can turn the tide if we honor our connectedness in truth without pride.
Mother Teresa once said, “In the West there is a loneliness, which I call the leprosy of the West. In many ways, it is worse than our poor in Calcutta.”
But your words offer a remedy. I agree. We CAN turn the tide from loneliness toward true community. The poverty of loneliness need not continue spreading its isolating shadow. God bless you for encouraging us to reach out to each other.
Severe loneliness is such a sad reality. May we make deliberate and consistent effort to connect with those both near and far.
Amen.