I read in the news yesterday that the US is now officially a nation of singles. There are now more single households. I read the news with a lot of sadness. This emerging social change is going to be as catastrophic, if not even more so, than climate change.
If most people live by themselves, is it any wonder there is a lot more lonely people than ever before? Are some people so engrossed by themselves or whatever they are doing that they do not have the time for others anymore? Or, do some people think of themselves so low that they feel they have nothing worth sharing with others?
Is a person living alone a family? What happens now to the family? What drives people to live alone? Are people living alone doing so because of choice or circumstances? If by choice, is it today’s crass materialism that drove people to do so? Or is it that people living alone are driven to even higher levels of conspicuous consumerism?
How will people learn to live in brotherhood and harmony, if they never experience living with a brother or a sister? How will people learn and experience unconditional love if they never have to care for and raise children? How can one learn to communicate if the only intimate interaction one has is with a pet or with virtual people on social media?
Imagine a world without families. Humanity will slowly die out. It may not be a nuclear holocaust nor the dreadful weather that will undo humanity but we will simply peter out into extinction.
In the Philippines, the government has been trying to rein in population growth for years as a means to eradicate poverty. And indeed, because of poverty and the scarcity of resources, people have no choice but to stay together in one household. To my mind, it is better to live with others in very modest even wretched conditions rather than wallow in comfort and luxury all by myself.
Blessed the people the Lord has chosen to be his own.
Psalm 33
Jesus said to the crowds:
“To what shall I compare the people of this generation?
What are they like?
They are like children who sit in the marketplace and call to one another,
‘We played the flute for you, but you did not dance.
We sang a dirge, but you did not weep.’
Luke 7:31-32