I have a million thoughts for today’s post but as I try to find the thread or the purpose of it all, my overall feeling is I’m just sad.
I’m sad people feel like they don’t have anyone to turn to.
I’m sad that parasocial relationships numb the pain a little, but not enough.
I’m sad that people go through trials and experience them worse because they are doing it alone.
I’m sad that we don’t know community is essential.
Gen-Z is being labeled as “the loneliest generation”. The statistics make it clear, but Freya India paints the grim picture when shes says:
“Loneliness is everywhere. Gen Z are posting friendship applications on Facebook. We’re ruminating on Reddit forums about why we feel so alone, and why there’s no community anymore. We eat dinner with YouTubers. We pretend to FaceTime influencers. We play video games alone in our rooms, or watch strangers play instead. Even the fact that #mentalhealth has over a hundred billion views on TikTok seems to me less a triumph of mental health awareness and more like a collective cry of loneliness. Why aren’t we opening up to each other, in real life? Why are we telling TikTok?”
This is heartbreaking but I think as Christians, we have so much hope too much hope to live in isolation. Community is built into our DNA. The church in Acts speaks to life together which I believe can only happen as we experience God’s grace and salvation and offer grace to others.
Even unbelievers recognize and envy the advantages of built-in religious communities.