Longing for Connection is Rampant in Modern Life                                                                                                         I am deeply lonely.  I long to love, laugh and be held in the warm glow of intimate connection by family, friends and beloved community.  Yet something stops me. I do not reach out.  I am left alone, knowing I am not living life to the fullest. Millions of other human beings are caught in the same conundrum . Made-Up Meanings Rule Our Lives I have been inquiring deeply into the roots of my disconnection.  Early in my childhood, perhaps on a day when I was very stressed, I came to a conclusion that has ruled my life: “I can never have anything I want.” Given the things going on in my family at the time, this made a weird kind of sense-for a five year old. It doesn’t make sense for someone who wants more love in her life.  Or for one who wants to bring peace and joy to this planet.

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 Lonely in the City I asked my neighbor Gerald to go to a July 4th Barbecue. I was alone for the weekend. Gerald, an elderly man in his seventies, also lives alone. He was surprised by my invitation and it surprised me as well. It occurred to me that since I moved into this condominium six months ago, I’ve only gotten to know two of my neighbors. Consider this: We are the most connected society the world has ever known.

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Seattle, this very nice city in the beautiful scenic Northwest, is still reeling from a rampage murder last weekend, when a 28 year old man killed 6 young people relaxing after attending a rave party the night before. No one knew the man. He seemed innocuous, although some mentioned he had a bad vibe. He was a big man, a quiet man. He attended the rave, was invited to the house party, came, smoked some dope, drank a bit, and then at 7 o’clock in the morning on this quiet, residential street went out to his truck, got an arsenal of weapons and came back into the house and started shooting. He was reported to have a smile of his face and to have said, “There’s plenty for everyone,” before killing himself as a police officer arrived on the scene.The aftermath of this senseless killing has left people groping for something to make the insanity of it go away.

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