How connected are we really?

I just heard another story of a teenage suicide, and this one hit closer to home. The young man went to school with my cousins. Several members of my family, adults and teenagers, probably know the young man, and perhaps very well.

And it happened at Christian school….

I think sometimes we Christians are oblivious to what’s really going on in the world. I think we have all the right intentions, but maybe we’re going about it all the wrong ways?

Nowadays, we’ll come up with a program to address an issue. We hold brainstorming sessions, come up with clever names, come up with a launch date, invite people to the first meeting that includes food or snacks, talk of the “vision”, and grow the program…

I’m guilty of it. But I’m starting to question the methodology now.

How much time do we waste setting something up when all we really need to do is be there?

The more I think about it, the more I realize how unconnected we’ve become. Facebook, text, email, Instant Messaging, Skype which covers about 10 years of rapid communication technology bring us together in theory.

But in reality, we’re in our homes sitting behind a computer. Or out and using our “wireless device” to keep in touch.

The thing is we aren’t “touching”. We’re keeping in touch, but we’re really out of touch. This world is farther apart then it’s ever been.

As I grow older the more I realize the value and importance of a touch. A pat on the back. A high five. A good firm handshake. A hug.

Can’t do that via Wi-Fi.

I used to be afraid of what the future holds for us…for our country. For our world. I still am, but now I realize I’m only afraid because of how our we’re raising this generation. We’ve failed the kids who are coming up today.

I have to wonder how much longer we’re going to keep running the way we run these days. In many cases, kids are growing up in a broken home or they’re growing up in a 2 income home that leaves little time for “Johnny.” Some parents can pull off the 2 income thing, because they’re children are still a priority. But others….career and wealth are more important. They replace the love with things and technology.

Nowadays, we have more things, but so much less love.

Johnny will get the cool new phone with unlimited text and talk. Mom and Dad will feel better because they can call or text him at any time. It eases their minds because now they can talk to him, but there’s no real connection.

How about this? Family communication was originally “wireless” anyways. You sat down and talked. No wires. No phone. Just talking. Unlimited minutes too. It wasn’t $20 to add a line.

I’m devastated by the little I know of the young man who took his life. I’m sure he had friends and family to talk to, even if he didn’t know it. What drives someone with so much to live for to that point? Or simply….Why?

Maybe all he needed was one more hug. Maybe all he needed was a friend to stand up for him. Maybe he needed to be laughed with, not laughed at.

But I can tell you this…kid’s today don’t need another program. They don’t need a Facebook message. They only need…and want… love. They’re crying out for it. Will we stop planning the next program to help them and instead, get out of our meetings, leave work early at 5, and put down our wireless device long enough and soon enough to hear them?

Take a step back, look and listen to what’s going on. It’s bad out there. No way to sugarcoat it. But we have to stop looking at schools and programs to help and save our kids. Schools are running out of money, and programs cost money. How can we expect them to help?

It starts at home and it starts with us.