Alone in a Crowd: Why Human Connection Isn’t Enough

Alone in a Crowd

I was 8 years old when I experienced one of my first large crowds.

The setting was Reynolds Colosseum, an intimate, 9,000-person arena where my beloved N.C. State played basketball. I remember the roar of the crowd, the pulsating energy before the team came out of the tunnel. It was a lot of noise and people for a kid. But I was there with my dad.

Before heading to our seats for tipoff, Dad told me to wait in the concourse for a minute while he did something. That minute became minutes. I watched the scoreboard clock tick down. It was almost game time. I was getting anxious. Where was Dad?

The players came onto the court. Fans jumped and shouted in anticipation. The decibels swelled. Yet instead of enjoying this moment as part of the crowd, I could only feel the anxious void of not having my dad there.

The game started, and at the apex of my panic, Dad returned. I fell into his chest and cried, relieved we had reconnected. It didn't matter how many thousands of people were in the arena or how exciting the moment was. I was lonely and sad because of the temporary separation from my father.

The Goodness of Human Connection

Growing up with a father who loved me and made me feel safe was vital. Parents and guardians are the key relationship for a child's well-being. Their love and presence protect kids from feelings of isolation.

As adults, the need for human connection remains. Our spouses, siblings, parents, co-workers, and friends shield us from feelings of isolation. Without other people, we cannot flourish.

The Limits of Human Connection

While we can have special bonds with others, we still experience emotional isolation. Even in the company of our closest companions, we can feel disconnected. Why?

Consider the soul, the deepest part of the self. It enables our consciousness and our ability to connect with everything around us. If our souls were man-made, it would make sense that our connection with people would fulfill us. Yet our intuition tells us no human has the power to craft a soul.

Instead, when we ponder the depth and beauty of the human soul, we can reason that God, the master creator, fashioned it.

And so, the deepest longing we have for soul connection can't be satisfied by humans. That's why loneliness and isolation persist, despite close personal relationships. Blaise Pascal said it well:

“There is a God-shaped hole in the heart of each man that cannot be satisfied by any created thing, but only by God the Creator, made known through Jesus Christ.” - Blaise Pascal

The Pain of Soul Separation

While our souls are unsatisfied without God, they've also become disconnected from Him. We've rebelled and gone our own way without the Creator. The separation isn't something we can mend.

This separation leads to a hopeless feeling of isolation and loneliness. We weren't made to be alone, yet as long as we're disconnected from the Creator, our souls will remain unsatisfied.

The Call to Soul Reconnection

At Christmas, we celebrate that God wasn’t satisfied with disconnection, either. He sent His Son, Jesus, into our broken world to reconcile us to Him. He came to fix our hearts and fill our souls. Until we receive Him, we’ll remain restless. We’ll feel alone even in the company of others.

Every Christmas, there's a loving offer for our spiritually parched souls. Jesus said to come to Him and drink the water He offers. If we do, we'll never be thirsty again. We'll be reconnected to God and address what our souls have always longed for.

Have a Merry Christmas.