Feeling Isolated...

Isolation is a feeling that is common among those with chronic illness. The feeling of being different or not normal, or not whole is one that can become a real barrier for people who need to connect to others. Even if there are no outward signs of disease, the affected person fears that when they are found to have "disease X" that people will shun them. Certainly, those with HIV/AIDS know this all too well across the world where there is a huge societal stigma associated with this all too prevalent disease.

What is our call then as people of faith to respond to the person who feels isolated? The first is to be in right relationship with them so that we sense that the person is feeling isolated - even if they will not divulge this information. Secondly, we are called to continue to bring them into the fold and love them no matter what the illness or brokenness. We may need to check in with the person and ask if they are involved in activities and are maintaining social contacts and events. It might mean "dragging" them along to things in order to show them that they are not modern day lepers.

I'm teaching a group of confirmands - all 8th graders - this week about "Caring for the Sick" as part of a learning program based on the parable of the good samaritan. We will be talking about modern day lepers - and I'm sure I'm going to have to teach them about how persons with Leprosy were (and still are) treated. We will talk about persons who exist on the fringes of society (the mentally ill for example) and what their reactions are to those persons who pan-handle on street corners. We will be talking about how isolated these persons are in their daily lives - and how the gutting of the mental health system in the 1980's has brought us to this place.

Isolation is a curable spiritual illness. It's one that doesn't cost any money, but it does cost us time to build right relationships. We need to look at issues like HIV/AIDS in a way that names the social injustices that create a vector for viruses like HIV to not only exist but to thrive. We then will need to act on those injustices in order to finally get control of diseases like HIV - medications just get at the infection, they don't treat the cause - they don't treat the stigma and isolation.

For Christians, this week marks the beginning of Lent. May the next few weeks be for all of us a time of reflection and honesty about how much or how little we are doing for all of our brothers and sisters who are isolated.

Peace,
Dan