…about friends and family.
I recently read that people in the U.S. on the average move every 5 1/2 years. Even half that much is a lot of moving. It kind of gives you the picture of a country of rolling stones; unattached, being pushed here and there without a lot of purpose. All this has the effect of spreading families out.
You’ve heard it said that “the world is a lot smaller than it used to be”, and in some respects it is. You can get to just about anywhere within the same day. That’s a far cry from the eight mile a day, two-year journey of “go west young man, go west” only four generations ago.
In other respects, however, the world has gotten bigger, much bigger. For reasons of both time and distance, it is harder to get extended families together. Few experience the kind of support systems that existed only a few years ago. I am not talking about social services. I am talking about people you can count on. People that are part of your life, people whose lives you are a part of…about friends. This kind of support system you can’t create no matter how good the health care package.
So, when you are feeling a bit lonely, or when you want to make a difference in the life of someone who is lonely, think of your church. It is a place where people gather, people you have a lot in common with, a place,
“where everybody knows your name, and we’re always glad you came,”…and a place for friends.
Father Bill Myrick
