Faith: A Way Out of Isolation
(Posted October 17, 2024)
There’s one statement that virtually anyone I know agrees with. We’re living in a time of unprecedented uncertainty, and for many, a state of anxiety that we’ve never experienced before.
Some people deal with the negativity by simply tuning out the news, retreating into anything but the news. Older people think they recall a time when they felt more hopeful for the future, when they trusted their leaders more, that they would do the right thing. Not now, however.
The Danger of Isolation
But for young adults, especially teens, the present time is even downright dangerous.
They live on social media so much that there is no way to filter out the darkness. Especially when the darkness takes the form of bullying and character assassination of the most vulnerable kids. This year approximately 13 million kids will be bullied. One in three are bullied online.
We may have furnished our teens and young adults with the latest in digital devices. But the one coping tool we’ve neglected to give them is a background of faith –- the belief that there is a God who is present in the light and in the dark of it all.
Faith isn’t a mere matter of religious doctrine. It’s believing enough that we are not alone and trusting that God will make things right in the end.
Faith Breaks Isolation
The formula for getting through tough times might look like this:
Belief Plus Trust Equals Faith
Faith leads to Hope and Resilience
The Price of Isolation
Boston Children’s Hospital reports, among teens between 15 and 19 years of age, suicide is the second leading cause of death. (Sadly, the number one cause combines car crashes and overdoses.)
Mental health experts warn us that among all youngsters, in the last ten years, the number of youth who have considered ending their lives has risen by 20 percent. For every age group, including all of adulthood, the terrible presence of loneliness has thrown a pall over our current lives. This loneliness is made worse by lack of human contact with so many people living online.
When we don’t feel we have the presence of even one real friend, who cares if we live or die?
A Way Out of Isolation
The truth is, we all have a sense that there is a spiritual dimension to existence during the course of our lives. Even if a young adult hasn’t had exposure to faith development, he or she can still explore that important tool for living just by stepping in the door of any congregation that welcomes everyone just as they are on their own journey.
The same welcome is just as available for seniors.
This Sunday, as we kick off the journey to stewardship later in November, we will explore the fourth Sunday service with Dr. Francis Collins’ Book, The Road To Wisdom. Dr. Collins was an avowed Atheist, until his years as a scientist began to show him the clues that God is present in everything. He came to believe at the age of 27.
Come join us this Sunday as we hunt for hope.