Connected and Alone
Made for More: Part 2
August 23, 2026
Two are better than one because they have a good return for their hard work. If either should fall, one can pick up the
other. But how miserable are those who fall and don’t have a
companion to help them up! Also, if two lie down together, they can stay warm. But how can anyone stay warm alone? Also, one can be overpowered, but two together can put up resistance. A three-ply cord doesn’t easily snap.
~ Ecclesiastes 4:9-12
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The writer of Ecclesiastes observes the futility of working hard without end only for ourselves and never being satisfied. It would seem human nature has not changed all that much over the past few millenia.
The problem is not hard work, but the endless nature of our work and our inability to be content. If we were asked what was more important between our family and friends or our work, most of us would say our relationships matter more. But if we take an honest look at our calendar and the amount of physical and mental energy we spend, work would win out almost every time.
All the way back in the Garden we find God saying that it is not good for humans to be alone. Yet we find ourselves so often toiling away in isolation, longing for genuine community and companionship but always feeling like we don’t have the time or energy to invest in the people who matter most to us.
Thomas Carter describes the same crisis of meaning in our day that the wisdom teacher in scripture observes in his. He writes:
The deeper issue is that modern society has become extraordinarily effective at explaining how things work while becoming increasingly uncertain about why they matter. Science reveals mechanisms. Technology expands power. Psychology analyzes behavior. Each contributes something valuable. Yet none fully answers the question of purpose. None tells us what kind of life is worth living. None explains why beauty moves us, why love matters, why sacrifice is noble, or why truth is worth pursuing.
As a result, many people live within a vast vacuum of meaning. They possess unprecedented access to information but little wisdom. They enjoy remarkable comforts yet experience profound dissatisfaction. They are connected to thousands through technology yet feel deeply alone. They can commnicate instantly across continents while remaining strangers to themselves. The result is drift. People drift from church. And prayer. And reflection.
Life becomes a sequence of distractions interrupted by occasional moments of anxiety. Entertainment replaces contemplation. Consumption replaces vocation. Busyness replaces meaning. The soul becomes restless without fully understanding why.
Our crisis of meaning, then and now, does not come from a lack of belief, but from a lack of presence. We are starving for connection with God, with one another, and even with our true selves. If you want to do something that matters, start by simply showing up for someone else. Being present makes all the difference.
Practice: Life Together
This week, name one person you’re living for, whether they know it or not, and one person who might be walking a similar road as you. Reach out to one of them. Call. Visit. Share a meal. Simply enjoy being together.