Isolation is tough. We may have never known the profound reality of this until these recent events. I’m sure we’re sitting in our home offices or our new homeschool classroom and asking ourselves the question, “How in the world do I find community in isolation?” After doing this for just a couple of weeks, I’ve seen some great ideas and would love to share them with you.
There is an excellent picture of community in Acts 2:42-49. The church had just begun to take off, and there was a reason behind that. The people spent time together on a regular basis and took care of each other. What’s amazing about this is the fact that in the middle of this “meeting together” the church grew exponentially. This meeting together was a priority for the early church, and I believe we are seeing that value now. When we meet together, we can tap into each other’s emotions instead of just sitting on our own. Laughing together, having a deep conversation, comforting each other, and even praying together are essential for our mental and spiritual health.
In the middle of this new isolation, our desire for community, and just a conversation with a friend does not go away. Even if you prefer more alone time than most, you may find yourself craving community in our new reality.
I’ve been feeling this tension (Probably because I crave more community even in the middle of a party) and have seen and practiced some creative ways to help fill this void. If you are feeling this, give a few of these a try.
Video Calls
These calls are probably the most popular alternative for community right now in our culture. These have been around for quite some time, but now they are as necessary as the invention of Double Stuffed Oreos. This is what I want you to know about these video calls; They are not just for work meetings. I have friends that are playing cards online, playing board games, watching shows, have small groups, and even exercising together while on these video call platforms. They are building real community and helping fill the “people void” that seems to be currently sitting in all of us.
A few of the most popular platforms for these calls are Zoom, Google Hangout, and Facetime. A few of these platforms are free, and even Zoom is offering a free option in light of the current circumstances in our world. Just get some of your friends set up on one of these platforms and enjoy each other’s company.
Social Media
Now, many of you have accounts, but there are some of you that have declared never to have a social media account. Well, this may be the time for you to break that declaration. You can delete it once this quarantine is over, but for now, it is a great way to connect with others. From posting daily videos of how your isolation is going to also sharing tips with your friends on how to survive being a new homeschool teacher, these social media platforms can bring a little joy in people’s day. So, whether its Facebook, Instagram, or even TikTok, checking out one of these platforms could be a gamechanger for building community in isolation.
Bring Back the Phone Call
Have you ever called a friend and they text you back this, “What’s up?” I want to say, “I called you to tell you what was up, and you didn’t answer the phone!” It’s almost like there is an entire world that doesn’t understand how to talk on the phone. Well guess what? I’m bringing the phone call back. Yes. Just call a friend. A simple conversation that you actually hear and don’t have to read can be very refreshing. You know what else works better over the phone? Tone. I’m sure you’ve received a text and had no idea if you should be offended, laugh, or cry. That’s because you can’t read tone. You can hear it. So, during these next few weeks, I challenge you to call someone.
Long Distance Picnics
My kids were craving time with their friends. So, we set up some blankets in the back yard that were all ten feet from each other (To be safe). Then we proceeded to have long-distance picnic with our friends. Did we find ourselves yelling, “Six feet apart!” a few times? Of course. However, it was well worth it. We had a great time connecting without having to be too close to one another.
So, there are some options for you to build community with your friends during this tough time. They may not be ideal, but they sure to help break up the dreaded isolation we are all feeling. Now, GO MAKE LONG DISTANCE COMMUNITY!
Love You All,
-Jason Dixon