Our modern world is known for its instant worldwide electronic connections. At the touch of a screen we can see, listen and inform people right across the globe. Family, friends and neighbourhoods are brought closer to our daily activities through modern technology. Yet our modern world is also known for the disconnected loneliness that touches so many people across our communities. Whilst the technology brings fingertip connections, we can still find ourselves lonely. Loneliness doesn’t come from being alone, loneliness comes from thinking you are alone, thinking you are the only one who feels a certain way, the only one in such a situation. However, people today are making choices to reconnect with others in more meaningful ways. The methods of the past are being rediscovered for their wholesome value in bridging loneliness. Face to face conversations, a hand upon a shoulder, a gift of home baked food delivered by the maker, these are a few of the old-fashioned connectivity methods that have proven their worth over time.

This wide brown land of ours, known as Australia can hinder our engagement with those who are distant from the suburbs where we live. People from Frontier Services make it possible for those in isolated areas to discover they are not really alone. Frontier Services provide opportunities for these old-fashioned conversations. Through droughts and flooding rains, caring people provide face to face visits and offer practical assistance by a real person.  Frontier Services continues to encourage people that they are not alone in their struggles, there are people who care and seek to help.

We too need to be reminded that we are connected to people across our wide brown land, and that we all are in life together.  There are far too many people feeling lonely when connection is only a quiet word away.  May we seek to find ways to link in with people around us, in our cities and in the distant countryside. May we all know we are children of God caring for each other.

Rev Malcolm Rawlings