Sharing Time and Space

Loneliness is now considered one of the leading threats to our health and well-being. It's one of the main factors that can lead to various health problems like heart attack, stroke, and depression. It is an epidemic that doesn't only affect the older population. In fact, in one study, the 18-to-34-year-old group expressed greater concern about feeling alone than those in the older age groups. The young people’s biggest fear is loneliness. We live in a society that is constantly being threatened by loneliness. Even if our social media account tallies hundreds or thousands of friends and followers, that threat of loneliness continues to loom over us. The late Father Benedict Groeschel who did the majority of his ministry in the New York City area would often describe the people of the bustling city of New York, despite being surrounded by countless others, as some of the loneliest.

In this day and age, it is important to remember that loneliness is not our natural default setting. We are hardwired to connect. In times of divisiveness, it is easy to forget the gift of one another--the present that is of one's presence. It is a priceless treasure. And you might just find that the benefits of being with others are priceless. Even mutually beneficial. When we reach out to our neighbors, our loved ones, and friends, we are not just alleviating somebody else's loneliness but we are also protecting our own selves from this very illness. The benefits of gifting others your time and your presence go both ways, to the receiver and to the giver. When we make ourselves present to other people, we make ourselves a present to them. And there is a present in the midst of the generous sharing of our time and space together—the gift of God’s presence. When we share time and space with our brothers and sisters in the name of Jesus, then He is there with us. “For where two or three are gathered in my name, there I am with them” (Matthew 18:20).

God, in his generosity, has graciously blessed us with time. That time between our entrance into this life and our exit is a gift from above where we are given the opportunity to experience community--the sharing of time and space with others. That time is a gift that we receive and a gift we must share. “Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms” (1 Peter 4:10). And if that gift or its form is time, why not share it. Serving others doesn't have to be feeding them or washing their feet. Serving others can be as simple as being present, to share time and space with them, to be their companion, to listen. The second commandment, right after "Love your God," is love your neighbor. 

How do we love God and our neighbor? One good starting point is to simply listen. Paul Tillich, one of the most influential theologians of the 20th century, said that: “The first duty of love is to listen.” We need to learn to be fully present and listen to the voice of God speaking to our hearts, for, according to Saint John of the Cross, “the language He best hears is the silent love.”