What Happened to Community?
Photo by Nina Strehl on Unsplash
Remember the song that says the more we get together, the happier we’ll be? Such a sweet little song that we all have either heard as kids or sang to our kids. Well 2020 definitely disrupted that idea with the global pandemic and social, political, and economic unrest which is still going on today. In a matter of months, life as we knew it changed and we were forced to think, rethink, and sometimes overthink every action and interaction, making sure we kept ourselves and those around us safe from an invisible virus with visible and deadly affects.
It’s not all bad.
On one hand, the isolation and slower pace of life served as a benefit, affording us all the opportunity to reflect and be present with our lives and those we live it with. To add to that, the social unrest uncovered a lot of long suppressed issues that birthed hard, but necessary conversations and brought a deeper understanding for us all. We learned a lot about ourselves and others in the process. But at some point and in some cases, I believe the reflecting went into overdrive. Self-awareness became self-absorbance. Feelings and emotions began to overpower rationale and reasoning. To take it a step further for the Christian, there seems to be a lot less leaning on the Word of God and a lot more leaning on other’s thoughts and opinions or just our own understanding. Social media has become a huge platform for any and everyone to express themselves. Some messages are beneficial, others destructive. It’s no wonder that relationships took a major hit. Marriages broken, friendships shattered, families distant.
Personal Impact
I boldly speak of this because I was in the thick of this struggle myself. The latter half of 2020, I was so overwhelmed by my own life and all that was going on in the world, that I shut down. I was trying to figure out where my place was in everything that was happening seemingly all at the same time. With events cancelled and more time to think, I began to question everything and almost everyone. I still smiled, still attended church, and still showed up for my life, but I was going through the motions. I halted making effort when it came to relationships, friendships to be specific. Slowly, distance was being created, and the temptation to isolate from community grew stronger and stronger.
I will be the first to acknowledge that it’s hard sometimes wading through the murky waters of all of this. Information is so accessible in such large amounts and we have more time than ever to consume as much as we choose. It has left us questioning, what’s safe? what’s not safe? and who/what can I trust? These are very valid questions with answers that may look different for each individual. But I realize that we must have a foundational truth to stand on in order to rightfully process through these moments. Personally, I choose to stand on God’s word. Contrary to what some may believe, the Bible is relevant to us today and so helpful when navigating difficulty. Proverbs 18:1 says “One who isolates himself pursues selfish desires; he rebels against all sound wisdom.” Isolation can lead to loneliness, which can open the door for unwelcome visitors such as insecurity, depression, anxiety, fear, addiction, apathy, and even pride. These are all things that hinder us from reaching out for support from others.
The Bottom Line
No matter our personality type, we NEED other people in our lives. We need real (not virtual) relationships with other people. We need people who can step into our vulnerable places and walk with us, providing sound wisdom and encouragement because no matter how strong, smart, and capable we think we are, we are all flawed in ways that others may be able to help.
Somehow in the midst of all of this, we have forgotten that loved ones are being lost from causes other than COVID, babies are still being born, single parents are still searching for a village of support, hunger and homelessness still exists, and mental health is on a continual decline amongst a plethora of other things. Many people are going through things alone. Are we just supposed to act as if community is no longer necessary because of the global pandemic? Are we no longer able to love our neighbors because of racial unrest? I beg to differ. Yes we need to be mindful of the times in which we are living. I’m not telling anyone to ignore our current reality. But we must be careful not abandon the hard yet necessary work that it often takes to maintain and build relationships. This is more than just a surface kumbaya moment. It’s not just talk, it’s also action. For the Christian, this means living like the church according to God’s Word.
In my next post, I’m going to dive into how scripture helps us to live out community.
Please know that I am praying for my country, my city, and for you as these are truly challenging times. My prayer is that more and more people will realize just how much Jesus loves us and is for us. Hope is found in Him!
