This week, US Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy issued an advisory warning regarding a “major public health crisis” leading to heart disease, dementia, anxiety, stroke and premature death. The culprit he blames in his warning is “an epidemic of loneliness.” That’s right, loneliness.
According to a report released by the US Department of Health and Human Services this week, one out of every two Americans are dealing with loneliness. This is not a post-pandemic statistic. It is based on data collected prior to the pandemic. The lockdown amplified loneliness and at the same time it highlighted the basic human need for relationships and how relationships are the cure.
“Our epidemic of loneliness and isolation has been an underappreciated public health crisis that has harmed individual and societal health. Our relationships are a source of healing and well-being hiding in plain sight – one that can help us live healthier, more fulfilled, and more productive lives.” — US Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy
You may be asking, “What does this crisis of loneliness have to do with the Ten Commandments?” EVERYTHING! God gave us the Commandments to warn us about the dangers of division and isolation, and to give us His recipe for building, enjoying, and benefitting from the relationships we share with one another.
Shortly after I began my journey to “Brush up” on the Commandments I learned that the entirety of the Commandments is all about relationships. Our relationship with God is the focus of the first three Commandments, and our relationships with others in four through ten. Jesus clarifies how the Commandments set the stage for our relationship with God and with one another when He declares the two greatest Commandments in Mark Chapter 12:
“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. The second is this: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.“
Even from a secular point of view, it is logical that a culture void of the Commandments becomes one of isolation and loneliness. Let’s explore this a bit starting with the 1st Commandment which warns us about having ‘strange gods’.
The most common “strange god” is ourselves, and with ourselves as the god we serve most, God gets in the way. To get Him out of the way, we neglect and even avoid Him. As a result, and just like any relationship that is neglected and avoided, our relationship with God deteriorates.
Then, having pushed God out of the way, we put ourselves in the drivers seat, we assume it is safe to ignore all the other Commandments giving us the ‘freedom’ to kill, commit adultery, steal, lie and covet. However, if we make these choices we leave a wake of hurt, mistrust, and anger that pushes people away, erects walls, and separates ourselves from our neighbors. The resulting division becomes the breeding grounds for loneliness.
As I outlined in my recent blog, the Ten Commandments were removed from the school classrooms, the courtrooms, and town squares starting in 1980. Having discarded God’s divine words of wisdom that outline how to build good relationships, should it be any surprise that now we are facing a crisis of loneliness?
Having reviewed the plan the Surgeon General announced this week, it is apparent to me how the Ten Commandments encompass nearly every point and recommendation of his plan. Here is his summary.
A culture of connection is vital to creating the changes needed in society. While formal programs and policies can be impactful, the informal practices of everyday life – the norms and culture of how we engage one another – significantly influence social connection. —US Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy
Without packaging it such, knowing and living the Ten Commandments in everyday life, is what the Surgeon General is proposing.
Do you experience loneliness? How about someone you know? One of the six points of the Surgeon General’s plan is to “Deepen our Knowledge”. The plan then provides insights and suggestions on how to deepen our knowledge of the problem and proposed solutions.
At a quick glance, the Commandments seem straight forward, not offering much beyond the surface list of Commandments that God gave to Moses over 2,000 year ago. Many think they are a list of restricting rules. However, each of the Ten Commandments contains great depth and offers a wealth of wisdom and practical measures for recognizing and living them in order to have joy and fullness of relationships with God and one another. I invite you to deepen your knowledge of the Ten Commandments and discover their depth and wisdom. Here are several suggestions:
Make it a joy-filled day,
Ed Van Buskirk
Executive Director
IfULoveMe.org
Restoring Truth in a World of Confusion
To dive deeper in your knowledge of learning and living the 10 Commandments on a daily basis in order to experience true joy and freedom, visit our 10 Commandments Page that corresponds to each of the 10 Commandments.
Photo: Pavel Danilyuk/Pexels
God’s Recipe for a Wonderful Life is now on the Catholic Radio Network! Tune in each Sunday at 8am Central Time to hear how the Commandments are God’s solution to the chaos & confusion of our world!
