We live in a world where we are more connected than ever to the people we know -- through email and social networking sites and Twitter -- and yet we are more isolated than ever. Studies show that Americans have fewer and fewer real friends they can talk to and trust. Brian Caulfield at Fathers For Good takes on this topic of loneliness in a four-part series of blog posts.
In the third part of the series, Brian writes:
"To fully realize his or her potential, a person must be in relationship with others. We do not fully know ourselves or our capacities without feedback from others. This is evident in the cooing love between a mother and her child, and it holds true in various ways at different stages of our lives.I recently heard those same sentiments echoed by a newly retired Sister of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary. As we were talking about this new phase in her vocation and ministry, she stressed the continued importance of friendship in her life. Real friendship. As she said, "I'm not talking about the people you play Bridge with."
"Rugged individualists we may be, yet we cannot escape what I call the 'interpersonal imperative.' We care what other people think, know and say about us and to us. I need you to become fully me."
"I don't know God unless I know God in you. I have to learn about God through you," she said.
Both Brian and the good Sister are onto something. We need friends, not just to keep loneliness at bay but to move us forward on our spiritual path. Click HERE to read Brian's posts on Fathers for Good.
