This is one of the saddest true-life stories I have ever read - Japan's Rent-a-Family Industry. People may quibble at the word "broken," but this article shows how broken we are when it comes to human relationships. It's tragic that people have become so disconnected that they would pay a stranger to act a part to fill that void. Ironically one of the reasons for the rental is conforming to society's expectations. If everyone took of their masks, who would be even close to the ideal? But that is the power of culture, you are loyal to the ideal even if it is out of reach and the exception, not the norm.
Another related article is this one - Japan's Prisons Are a Haven for Elderly Women. This breaks my heart that the elderly would find a better community in prison because their families have rejected them and they are friendless. This may be Japan, but it is worth taking note. America is getting grayer and grayer too.
After I read these stories, a few thoughts came to mind. I only have time to jot them down. Maybe I'll dig deeper and write more later:
- We were meant for community.
- Keeping up appearances doesn't fill the void of real human relationships.
- Connection via social media isn't a substitute for face-to-face friendship. Being a friend takes more than clicking a mouse on a Facebook friend request and an occasional like on someone's status.
- Does the sacredness of the Western nuclear family close the door or at least make it more difficult to give help to biological family as well as the family of God? I grew up in a family where everyone chipped in to help noodle relatives* no matter how distant on the family tree Why don't we do that in the West? Why are we so reticent to ask for help? How willing are we to give of ourselves when it starts to encroach on individualistic cultural boundaries? I think this is something the American church can learn from immigrant believers.
- Where does the church fit in all of this?
- Is individualism killing us? Not just the emotional toll but the detrimental physical effects of loneliness?
- Cherish your family and friends and don't take them for granted. Hug them. Talk to them. Tell them you love them and appreciate them.
*This is based on something my mom said. Family is like a dish of noodles. When you pickup a noodle with your chopsticks and start to pull, you find you are connected with many more people than just immediate family.
Another related article is this one - Japan's Prisons Are a Haven for Elderly Women. This breaks my heart that the elderly would find a better community in prison because their families have rejected them and they are friendless. This may be Japan, but it is worth taking note. America is getting grayer and grayer too.
After I read these stories, a few thoughts came to mind. I only have time to jot them down. Maybe I'll dig deeper and write more later:
- We were meant for community.
- Keeping up appearances doesn't fill the void of real human relationships.
- Connection via social media isn't a substitute for face-to-face friendship. Being a friend takes more than clicking a mouse on a Facebook friend request and an occasional like on someone's status.
- Does the sacredness of the Western nuclear family close the door or at least make it more difficult to give help to biological family as well as the family of God? I grew up in a family where everyone chipped in to help noodle relatives* no matter how distant on the family tree Why don't we do that in the West? Why are we so reticent to ask for help? How willing are we to give of ourselves when it starts to encroach on individualistic cultural boundaries? I think this is something the American church can learn from immigrant believers.
- Where does the church fit in all of this?
- Is individualism killing us? Not just the emotional toll but the detrimental physical effects of loneliness?
- Cherish your family and friends and don't take them for granted. Hug them. Talk to them. Tell them you love them and appreciate them.
*This is based on something my mom said. Family is like a dish of noodles. When you pickup a noodle with your chopsticks and start to pull, you find you are connected with many more people than just immediate family.
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