Dear Friends in Christ,
Self-quarantine and social distancing have become the new normal due to the coronavirus protocols. And in lieu of our loss of personal contact with one another, some individuals become lonely, leading to anxiety and depression. Some don’t know how to reach out to others which compounds their loneliness. The impact could become greater with the uncertainty of how much longer this self-isolation will drag on for some of us.
In an article I read online, published by the medical staff of Northwestern University, strategies are suggested for coping with the loneliness of being stuck at home. The first suggestion is to STAY CONNECTED. While face to face, Zoom conferencing, and Skype have become commonplace these days in the workplace, but they are also a great way to stay connected with friends and family. And of course, you can reach out to someone through your phone. If you know someone who lives alone, reach out and call them. Let them know that we’re all in this together.
If you are feeling stuck at home with family members, play games or cards, read books, and watch movies. You could also keep a journal of positive moments each day to help you appreciate what is good in all this. Second, USE THE LIGHT! —outdoor light! This promotes a strong immune system and positive mood. The results is better sleep, metabolism, and healthier cardiovascular and immune functions. It also can boost your mood and overall well-being.
Participating in activities has an impact on our mood, especially those that make us feel good. Isolation and disruption to our routine can create feelings of sadness and loneliness. Take advantage of nice days by taking a walk. And maintain some kind of routine, still waking up at a consistent, reasonable time.
While all of the above are positive and helpful suggestions, if all of these approaches don’t work, what does? Is there a cure for loneliness? Is there some secret elixir that will fix this toothache of the soul?
How is your relationship with God? Is it close and intimate, like that of a loving, caring parent and its child? Or is your relationship with God cold and distant, only superficial? Have you tried to reconnect with God and allow your prayers to become more conversational and less formal? You might then begin to again feel God’s presence. We worship a God who lives among God’s people through the Holy Spirit. Loneliness is God’s way first of drawing us closer to him, then forcing us to reach out to other people.
Remember, going back to the Old Testament, we discover that the first four of the Ten Commandments are about our relationship with God. The last six commandments are about our relationship with other people. If you are having trouble restoring your relationship with God, give me a call and together we will work on reconnecting you to God so that we can help lift your feeling of loneliness.
I’m looking forward to being together with you all again!
God’s peace,
Pastor Bob
P.S. – Please visit our At-Home Prayer Resources page to view and download prayer resources made available to us from the ELCA.
