Commitment to drive out loneliness

SUNDAY SERMON - There is a common saying that the world is cold and cruel, simply because there are so many things going on where we have no say. We often encounter ups and downs, rejection and dejection, laughter and cry, crowd and loneliness. People are yearning for accommodation, acceptance, company, agreement and belonging, even when they are in crowded places. That yearning is the fuse that triggers loneliness which we must all be committed to drive out from society. People spend so much money to see medical doctors because of physical ailments brought about by frustrations, isolation, discrimination, indifference and nonchalance. This affects both the rich and poor alike. I believe that even in our national hype we need to recognize that when people are characterized by hopelessness and loneliness, their productive and creative ethos is completely stifled. A programme of rehabilitation and recreation may help, but may not guarantee success. Sometimes it is the society which is moving too fast ahead of the majority. Many people who can not cope with the pace may feel left out; even when the benefits it comes with can be seen. Consider a society like that of the industrialized world; there are extreme cases of deprivation and loneliness resulting in the formation of whole clans of homeless people. These are people who would rather live on the streets than join the crowd of the working class. I can not blame them because even if they joined the crowd, deep inside their hearts they would still feel quite lonely. People want to belong and have a piece of an action, but most of all they want to be appreciated as people. Have you ever noticed that the rich only associate with the rich? Even in cases where the rich reach out to the poor, they behave in such a manner as to say, “Here you are folks, we came down to bring you food, money and clothing.” David the great Psalmist knew what rejection was all about when he wrote in Psalms 84: 10, “Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere; I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked.” He was hunted day and night by King Saul and had no where to lay his head. The rich and the mighty could not help him. He decided that it would be better to spend one day with his God instead of spending a thousand days in a crowded environment. Yes, there are people who would rather spend their time in trenches, than withstand the loneliness from associating with an uncaring, callous, indifferent, insensitive and selfish crowd. It is our collective responsibility to awaken the dormant and creative potentialities in our neighbours and the people out there so that they may experience what we are talking about when we tell them, “God loves you.” There are people struck down with severe mental health, depression, melancholy and dejection who could benefit from an outpouring of deep love from us. Let us not build cocoons and deceive ourselves that the world goes round the sun; or that there are twelve hours of day and twelve hours of night when others out there have twenty-four hours of non-sleep; spent in the trenches of life; of loneliness and deprivation. There is a difference between commitment and interests. When you are interested in doing something, you only do it when it is convenient. When you are committed to something, you accept no excuses, only results. There are moments when we must firmly choose the course which we will follow, or else the relentless drift of events will make the decision for us. Let us choose to commit ourselves to making the world a better place for all to live in by moving away from mere interest to commitment. redplan20002001@yahoo.com