Old Friends

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Simon and Garfunkel penned these words to “Old Friends” in 1968, the same year Richard graduated from high school. By 1972, the year we married, the lyrics were well ingrained in our Boomer music memory tracks. Being 70 was not just “terribly strange”-- it was someone else, not us.

We’ve played this song often (as well as other great oldies) during the past few months as we embarked on a targeted “processing and preserving” project. Between us, we looked through every box of memorabilia and each photo album stored on our shelves and in our closets.  We tossed letters, cards, ticket stubs, and pressed corsages—but not before we preserved them digitally! We’re pretty proud that our collection of over 10,000 pictures and scrapbook pages now resides in digital albums on our computers and in The Cloud*.

More significant than lightening our collected load is the realization that we have been profoundly blessed by “old friends” from multiple chapters of our lives. While living and ministering in many places, we’ve been surrounded by people who have supported, encouraged, and challenged us. It is those connections that have enriched our journey and made us whole. 

That may be why recent research about the profound loneliness impacting our culture today is so disturbing. Data shows that many of us have become disconnected from others, severed from relationships, and detached from friendships. 

While we can blame some of the social distance on the global pandemic of 2020-2023, much of the disengagement comes from the bombardment of technology, social upheaval, and our own fears and apathy. Loneliness and disconnection affect our individual social, physical, spiritual, and emotional health and the well-being of our communities.
 
Modern-day writers understand the impact of connectivity in our lives. Dan Buettner, a National Geographics journalist and explorer, set out to investigate regions of the world with reportedly high longevity. In his book, The Blue Zones (also a mini-series on Netflix), he identifies nine lifestyle habits contributing to extraordinarily long and vital lives in certain communities. One worthy of note is having close relationships, connectivity within a community, and meaningful social support—the antithesis of loneliness. Economist Noreena Hertz, PhD,  released the book The Lonely Century: A Call to Reconnect. Her message is we can heal fractured communities by restoring connection in our lives. (Note: Stanford Center for Longevity is hosting “A Conversation with Noreena Hertz” on October 4 at 1 p.m. ET. You can register for free here.)

Of course, Scripture consistently reminds us that it is in community – in relationship with others – that we find and experience the truth of Christ’s love and grace. Perhaps that is why our recent life review journey through photos and collectibles revealed the intense importance of “old friends.” They are the bookends that hold our lives together.<