Individuals are creative, knowledgeable, skillful and diverse. Individuals are also potentially fragmented, limited, isolated, lonely and more likely to suffer from mental and physical health issues than those who are not isolated from others.
When people participate in groups where others share like-minded beliefs, creativity and goals, there is greater wisdom because communities are able to benefit from greater insight, experiences, and resiliency, while having a sense of belonging, contribution, influence and sustainability.
Individuals are not meant to be isolated and alone
Communities have many more benefits than individuals. While each person is an individual, individuals were never meant to be alone. Genesis 2:18 tells us, “And the Lord God said, it is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him.” God made Eve to be a companion for Adam. From then on, man would not be alone.
Although world population is approaching seven billion, there are still many people who are isolated and experience loneliness, whether by choice or life situations. Being isolated from community experiences not only robs a person of a sense of belonging and the benefits of having close associations with other community members and close relationships due to lack of friends, confidants and loved ones, but can actually result in health problems.
Studies have demonstrated that individuals who are isolated experience loneliness which can lead to depression, a loss of cognitive functioning and can even contribute to dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, according to “Loneliness and Alzheimer’s.” According to the study, conducted by Rush Alzheimer’s Disease Center, of the 823 study participants, over the four year study period, 76 individuals developed dementia meeting Alzheimer’s criteria, with the risk of developing Alzheimer’s increasing by 51 per cent for each point on the loneliness scale. Those with high scores on the loneliness scale were 2.1 times more likely to develop Alzheimer’s than those who had a low score on the loneliness scale. It was determined that loneliness is a risk factor and not an early sign of Alzheimer’s disease.
Older adults who have lost their spouse, siblings or close friends are more likely to experience social isolation and loneliness. There may be no one close to some elderly people who can look in on them, take them along on community or family activities or even take them to church, where they are likely to be involved in activities.
In a study conducted by the University of Chicago and reported in “Few friends combined with loneliness linked to poor mental and physical health for elderly,” researchers determined that of senior citizens who are more socially connected, those individuals are “three times more likely to report very good or excellent health compared to those who are less connected, regardless of whether they feel isolated.” This survey may be a good indicator regarding the effect of senior citizens’ participation in community activity and social relationships on the physical and mental health of the elderly.
Older adults may be less likely than younger individuals to take the initiative to reach out to others. It is up to us as members of community and as believers to go outside of our own circle of loved ones and friends to include others. Perhaps the senior citizen does not attend community meetings, activities or church because he or she does not have the transportation or cannot see quite good enough to drive.
Luke 14:12-14 says that, “When thou makest a dinner or a supper, call not thy friends, nor thy brethren, neither thy kinsmen, nor thy rich neighbors; lest they also bid thee again, and a recompence be made thee. But when thou makest a feast, call the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind: And thou shalt be blessed; for they cannot recompense thee: for thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of the just.
If we go outside our own circle to include individuals such as the elderly person who may not have a way to get to church, the grocery store, a meal with a family, community meetings, events or activities, we are giving that older adult the opportunity to participate, to feel a sense of belonging, to experience and feel the love of Christ, love of their neighbor, to add to their insight and perception and to contribute to the goals, achievements and sustainability of community.
Communities are wiser than individuals
While individuals can be quite wise, communities see things through many eyes rather than from one single perspective. Communities are more knowledgeable, nurturing, healthy, creative and empowering than individuals.
It is the experience, rather than just the structure of a community that benefits members of a community, no matter if that “community” is a football team, a dance group, senior citizens center group, neighborhood association, a parent association in an elementary school, a book club, college sorority or church. Within each of these communities may be other opportunities that allow for an even greater sense of belonging, participation and achievement.
The neighborhood association may have several groups that work on individual projects, where members of the smaller groups contribute their knowledge, expertise and creativity. When the smaller groups come together as a whole, the goals of the neighborhood association are realized and the neighborhood thrives.
When a church has smaller groups such as home-study Bible groups, members of the groups are able to study their Bible together, offer their thoughts, testimony and experiences and enjoy the encouragement, sharing, friendship and socialization of the study group. Different church groups may draw on the expertise of individual church members to work on community projects that focus on activities such as reaching out to the youth in the community, remodeling or repairing homes for elderly, disabled or low-income citizens, or feeding the hungry in the community while serving the Lord.
For members of the community who have less and therefore fail to participate in community because they feel they have less to offer, those of us who have more can let the needy know that they have just as much to contribute as someone more wealthy. After all, it is not our Earthly wealth that is of greatest importance. Acts 20:35 tells us that it is better to give than to receive.
When we pool our resources and talents to help those less fortunate in the community, we are not just helping those individuals overcome obstacles or adversity; we help them to see and understand that they may be individuals, but should not feel isolated because they have less. They are, in fact, community members who are valuable, not forgotten and have important contributions to make. For instance, those who live in poverty may not have the largest bank account but can give greater insight into the needs of the community, since they experience it first-hand on a daily basis.
We have responsibilities as community members and servants
When individuals are isolated, whether through choice or life circumstances, they can suffer a lack of enjoyment in life, a lack of belonging and limited insight and contribution, as well as the consequences of poor mental and physical health. It is through feeling a sense of belonging and actively participating as a community member that the wisdom and benefits of community are reaped.
Individuals who feel isolated can take the initiative to be more active in community activities by joining a local community center, neighborhood association, a group that focuses on the individual’s knowledge, expertise or interests. There are some individuals who may not have the ability of going out on their own to actively participate in community activities. As community members and servants, we can make sure that those individuals do not remain isolated. We can be a friend and reliable resource to help the loneliest community members realize that their contributions, participation, knowledge and wisdom are very important and valued.
When we serve Him, then as a member of a community, we share our knowledge and love of Christ with others in the community. Reaching out to community members helps to bring together the overall knowledge, abilities, wisdom, insight, and skills of individuals into a community unit.
A community represents the sum total of being able to see the community and the world through many eyes, with the diversity, strength and ability to set and achieve goals and be sustainable. As Robert Wilson said, “humans are very social creatures. We need healthy interactions with others to maintain our health.”
Our health encompasses our overall health; physical, mental and spiritual.