Connections

Sometime back, I was listening to an interview with the author, educator, and entrepreneur Adam Robinson. He spoke about a startling discovery he had recently made. One day he typed into Google, “How can I learn…” just to see what would pop up – to see what people are looking for.

How can I learn…

You probably understand how with Google, suggestions will pop up as you type. And these suggestions are based on the most popular searches related to the words you enter…

So he found that if you type into Google, How can I learn…. the number one suggested query is: How can I learn English. That makes sense. Then, how can I learn Spanish; how can I learn to sing; how can I learn to code. But what was astonishing was that the fifth most popular search is: How can I learn… to love myself… This means that millions and millions and millions of people have been searching that query… millions and millions of people are wondering… am I worthy of being loved….

Robinson suggests that there is a loneliness epidemic in our country right now. And, social media is not helping that problem. In fact, it may very well be making it worse.

I don’t know. But I do know that there is a tremendous need for human connections. There is a tremendous need for people who are willing to reach out to others with love and hope and compassion.

I wonder if there are people you know – who need to know that someone loves them; that you love them… I wonder how you might be a beacon of hope and light for others around you.

Let us pray: God of Grace, I pray today, especially for those who are struggling with how to love themselves. Remind each and every one of us that you have created us in your own image, and may we know your deep and abiding love for us – even now Amen.