By Scott Baker

Although many have used this short passage of the book of Genesis as a proof text for the support of traditional marriage, I believe it speaks to a wider subject. I believe what God was saying in the second chapter of Genesis is that human beings are created to be in community. We don’t do very well in isolation and loneliness. With that stated I was shocked to read in a recent news magazine that I subscribe to the following statistic: “22 percent of Millennials (ages 23 to 38) say they have ‘no friends,’ and 30 percent say they always or often feel lonely — higher than any other generation. Sixteen percent of Gen Xers and 9 percent of Baby Boomers say they don’t have any friends.” Quoted from The Week, Volume 19, issue 937 (YouGov).

In a recent workshop I attended, another supporting statistic stated that one of the “plagues” of modern society is ever-increasing feelings of isolation and loneliness. The irony is that we appear to be more connected to each other in more and various ways with the internet, social media, texting and the like. Add to that, the steep decline of such organizations as the Masons, Moose lodges, Junior leagues, not to mention mainline denomination churches, our natural avenues of connection become fewer and fewer.

It is interesting to note, just 18 percent of the population of the Commonwealth of Virginia attend any faith community on a regular basis, it seems that we are exacerbating the very loneliness we feel.

From my armchair psychologist’s perspective, it seems that we need real, face-to-face interaction for our mental, emotional and psychological health. What we are learning is that, although “virtual” interaction is neat, clever and convenient, it doesn’t feed the deep-down hunger we have for human touch and face-to-face relationships.

Not long ago, I read a thought-provoking quotation, “Covenant is the antidote to solitude.” God is the God of covenants (both old and new). God longs to be in relationship with us and longs for us to be in relationship with each other. If recent statistics are true regarding isolation and loneliness, our communities have built into them the remedy to those maladies in the presence and ministry of our communities of faith.

If we are longing for relationships what better way to satiate that desire than to be a part of a community whose very purpose is to love and be a conduit for relationships to God and other human beings? It may very well be the cure that’s been there all along to the growing epidemic of loneliness and isolation that’s plaguing our lives and our country.

THE REV. SCOTT BAKER is the rector at Emmanuel Episcopal Church in Franklin. Contact him at 562-4542.