“Loneliness” (1880) by Hans Thoma, National Museum in Warsaw (Accession No. 192915/22), Source cyfrowe.mnw.art.pl (PD)
“Turn to me and be gracious to me for I am lonely and afflicted. Relieve the troubles of my heart and free me from my anguish” (Ps. 25: 16-17).
Loneliness is a feeling of isolation, detachment, and lack of social connection – an emotional state now so common it has its own Wikipedia page [1]. An argument might easily be made that there is, in fact, a loneliness epidemic. Across the globe, there are some 740,000 suicide deaths annually [2].
All human beings experience loneliness, at one time or another, particularly when we have lost someone or ended a relationship. In some sense, loneliness characterizes our species. But the feeling can be particularly intense for abuse victims.
Empty Goals
Part of this is due to the pursuit of empty goals by our culture.
Ours is a materialistic society. We are encouraged to be shallow, to seek fame and wealth above all things. Yet these do not guarantee happiness. In fact, avid pursuit of them may increase our loneliness.
Fame for its own sake is meaningless. And no number of McMansions (or villas on the Riviera, for that matter) can fill an empty heart.
Broken Families
Broken families are another cause for loneliness, and these are endemic in our society.
At least 40% of American children are today born out of wedlock [3A]. The percentage among African Americans is much higher [3B]. This means children do not have the financial support – and regular presence – of both a mother and father. As a consequence, 59% will live in poverty [4].
Half the remaining children will experience divorce, which means that fully 70% of American children will not live in a two parent household, for at least some part of their childhood [5]. Continue reading
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