British organizations established that group in 2011 to meet the needs of lonely older people. Its foundation-funded work involves community action, research, and policy, according to the organization’s website. British leaders find the loneliness issue extremely disconcerting—so much so that in January British Prime Minister Theresa May appointed a minister for loneliness, Tracey Crouch. Crouch’s role is to “lead a government- wide group to establish policies on the issue [of loneliness],” The New York Times reported. In Japan, where 1 in 5 people is over the age of 65, the loneliness crisis is severe. A Japanese term, kodokushi, or “lonely death,” refers to peo- ple dying alone because they are estranged from their families and friends. It’s common for bodies to go undiscovered for weeks or even months. “With one of the fastest aging populations in the world and traditional family structures breaking down, Japan’s kodokushi phenomenon is becoming harder to ignore,” writes Matthew Bremner on Slate.com. “According to the Min- istry of Health, Labour, and Welfare, there were some 3,700 ‘unaccompanied deaths’ in Japan in 2013. However, other experts estimate the number is nearer 30,000 a year.” No matter where you live, researchers agree that even if you aren’t physically alone, you can still experience loneliness. Meaningful relation- ships require a strong emotional connection, John T. Cacioppo said in The New York Times, and the quality of our friendships, not the quantity of friends, plays a role in loneliness. Contrary to God’s Design T his epidemic grieves the heart of our triune God, who said, “It is not good that man should be alone” (Genesis 2:18). Peter Leithart, author of Traces of the Trinity, said in an interview with Tony Reinke on DesiringGod.org, “We live fully human lives only when we live in communion with God and with other human be- ings. Other human beings play a role in keeping our sense of identity intact. We know who we are because our parents give us a name and keep calling us by that name. Unless we continue to be called, by name, our sense of identity dissolves.” Even if you’ve never experienced loneliness, you can probably relate to Leithart’s statement. When someone uses your name during conversa- tion, you feel special. You find it impressive when a new acquaintance remembers and uses your name. But if you don’t have anyone in your life close enough to even know your name, understandably, loneliness would set in. Christian relationship experts Les and Leslie Parrott have firsthand experience with Americans’ loneliness. During a radio program they were invited to answer callers’ questions about relation- ship issues, but the topic turned to loneliness when a caller said he hadn’t spoken to anyone in a long time. That opened a floodgate of responses from lonely people from around the nation. Ī WWW.AGRM.ORG MAY/JUNE 2018 9 You find it impressive when a new acquaintance remembers and uses your name. But if you don’t have anyone in your life close enough to even know your name, understandably, loneliness would set in.