The internet and numerous amounts of class work do not help this depression because they cause us to go into isolation from direct contact with others. The internet offers us so many ways to connect with others, so many ways to find out new and interesting facts but it does not provide us with a real and living community. The internet, cell phones, ipods, beepers all, in many ways, draw us away from each other instead of towards one another. In the beginning it begins in times we are bored, we turn to these other social options or distractions, but later we find ourselves either cutting off real interactions or using these technologies while around real people, making real relationships disconnected. In effect, we find ourselves never really connecting with anyone and they are never really connecting with us.
Class work and homework, writing papers and doing projects do the same thing. Sure, we get together for class… but is it really a community? Do we ever really feel like we know these people around us? My first semester at seminary (and even some in my second semester) I found myself going to class and doing all this work but feeling very isolated and alone. I mean, it is seriously depressing to be in a new town and only have class and homework to do. Sure, I love playing computer/console games and watching TV and movies; but these are entertainment and once again provide isolation and not community, not real community.
I have at times just sat in the silence of my room, in my singleness, in my lack of community, confusion about the future, and thought about my life. I still do sometimes, but I find that community is really the only answer to depression, isolation, and aloneness. It is a problem that has very circular reasoning and the only way to break such a vicious cycle is.. to break the cycle, to force oneself to find some community, to seek out friendships, to find those people around and take the initiative, to take the risk perhaps of being accepted or rejected. But the risk of being an isolated individual is so much worse to take than the risk of seeking community.
And now to my theological mumbo-jumbo… You knew it was coming didn’t you? How can we as humanity think we can live without community in the first place? God created humanity in community, whether this is the reality of family or friendships, there is a vital essence of community and relationships that exists and is essential for every human, even those who are introverts like myself. I suppose some people’s communities are smaller than others are but always the importance is still there. Even God is a God of relationships, a God of community… that is plainly seen in the Trinity. It can also be seen in Jesus and his relationship with the 12 disciples. While solitude is needed sometimes, so is interaction and community. Balance, moderation, and rhythms of life are so importance but are also so much harder to live with than the extremes of abstinence (isolation) or extremes (never alone). Everyone needs community and alone time, humor and seriousness, work and play. But what we cannot live without is community, real community… community with each other and with God. This is the only hope to heal any forms of depression, isolation, and deep feelings of aloneness. However, while we must lean on God and others, the initiative for this transformative healing and line of thinking involves actions we must make ourselves, the initiative to get out of the cycle we have trapped ourselves in, the cycle that perhaps sin has trapped us, perhaps the cycle that even Satan himself delights in more than we know.
- Daniel
Pics from:
http://www.suzylamplugh.org/files/images/Training/community_pic.jpg
http://edtech.kennesaw.edu/intech/j00787421.gif
http://sites.younglife.org/sites/KaneCounty/Home%20Page/Circle%20of%20Friends!.JPG
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