We Will Get Through This Together
Alienation Series
“When we are forced to be alienated from one another, it can be very easy to fall further and further into ourselves. Isolation is a slippery slope, and we can fall into some dark places if we're not cautious. This is where it is so important to stay connected with those around you. Utilize technology and other means of staying connected…”
““He has put my brothers far from me, and those who knew me are wholly estranged from me. My relatives have failed me, my close friends have forgotten me. The guests in my house and my maidservants count me as a stranger; I have become a foreigner in their eyes. I call to my servant, but he gives me no answer; I must plead with him with my mouth for mercy. My breath is strange to my wife, and I am a stench to the children of my own mother. Even young children despise me; when I rise they talk against me. All my intimate friends abhor me, and those whom I loved have turned against me.””
Explanation:
At this point in Job’s lamentations, Bildad, Job’s friend, offers up his biting analysis of the situation. Having just described the plight of the wicked and noted the many parallels with Job’s situation, it’s hard to avoid the insinuation that Job is now outside of God’s favor and must have done something to get there. He feels alienated, despised, and rejected by even his own family. It's a lonely, horrible experience for Job. Thus, it is not surprising that Job would be crushed by these words of Bildad, and he ours his heart out in response. Although Job is heavily burdened by the word of his friend, it is important to note that he still has not blamed God for his circumstance, but instead cries out in despair for redemption and deliverance.
Connection:
Social distancing - a phrase we were largely unfamiliar with only a few, short years ago - has now become a familiar refrain. The ravages of the Covid-19 pandemic have turned much of the world upside-down. Now, over a year into the outbreak, we're still dealing with the effects as we wait, hope, and pray for some kind of a miracle cure or the vaccines to allow us to return to our lives as normal, or at least give us a feeling of normalcy again - whatever that may look like.
Yet, many of us have found ourselves profoundly affected by the response to the virus, especially in 2020. Governments and heads of state recommended that we distance ourselves from one another - to embrace a sort of indefinite stasis where we learn to live estranged from our communities. Churches and even schools had shut their doors, and many have returned to that state, giving us an accidental glimpse into the darkness that can befall upon us when we are isolated, apart from those whom we love and have fellowship. Like Job, millions felt alienated as we were forced to confront our own mortality and vulnerability before the seeming cruelties of nature. Despite our efforts to slow the spread and "flatten the curve," we have opened ourselves up to other risks of depression, despair, and suicide. It reminds us again of the necessity of community and of friendship. It beckons us once again to reevaluate our lives and our own mortality, and above all, points us to Christ who is the only sole assurance in a world that offers no guarantees.
Action:
1. Stay Connected -
When we are forced to be alienated from one another, it can be very easy to fall further and further into ourselves. Isolation is a slippery slope, and we can fall into some dark places if we're not cautious. This is where it is so important to stay connected with those around you. Utilize technology and other means of staying connected, as it is written: "Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone? And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken" (Ecc. 4:9-12).
2. Clear Your Head -
While it can seem counterintuitive, taking the time you need for yourself to process what is happening around us can be beneficial. Spend some time alone in prayer. Go for a walk or a hike to retreat and recharge. This can help you to gain some clarity and give you some fresh air and sunlight, which can help in cases of temporary depression.
3. Be Part of the Solution -
It is important to remember that you are not alone in this time of alienation. Millions of people feel exactly as you did or do now, and many are wrestling with the same issues. In light of this, we can take steps toward being part of the solution, such as starting a discussion group or social media page for those who are struggling with alienation during this pandemic. This can give us a sense of purpose and also allows us to build up a community of support during times like these where we can truly "bear one another's burdens" (Gal. 6:2).