• Don’t Click Here

cultural atheist

~ Rejecting the gods of our culture since 1998.

cultural atheist

Tag Archives: loneliness

Touch is Life

11 Monday Sep 2017

Posted by braddahr in health, recovery, relationships

≈ 6 Comments

Tags

healing, Hugs, Isolation, loneliness, recovery, Touch

I’m a hugger. Been that way for a long time. I’m told I’m good at it (aka encouraging and comforting but not creepy). I always ask. I find non-huggers and side-huggers (side hugs are from satan) to be weirdos. One guy would run out of the room whenever I brought up the subject in our group. Even so, I respect that people have their own ways and so I don’t make a big deal about it.

 

friends-1262152_1280

The other day, a friend sent me this article: How a Lack of Touch is Destroying Men. I was immediately intrigued. From a mental health perspective, I think the author has something important to say because he relates it to isolation. I encourage you to check it out but here’s a little excerpt and then a deep thought.

“In American culture, we believe that men can never be entirely trusted in the realm of the physical… Accordingly, it has become every man’s job to prove they can be trusted, in each and every interaction, day by day and case by case… by foregoing physical touch completely in any context in which even the slightest doubt about our intentions might arise.

And where does this leave men? Physically and emotionally isolated. Cut off from the deeply human physical contact that is proven to reduce stress, encourage self esteem and create community. Instead, we walk in the vast crowds of our cities alone in a desert of disconnection. Starving for physical connection. We crave touch. We are cut off from it. The result is touch isolation.”

The author ends the article with the simple sentence: “Touch is life.”

One of the powerful experiences that the Bible communicates is that Jesus touched people. Sadly, he is often presented stoically, distance, and unapproachable. In The Gospel of Matthew by The Visual Bible, Jesus is portrayed warm and friendly – I believe it’s the most accurate and realistic movie version of Jesus.

ComeToMe-NF-smIn the Good News, there is one time when a leper comes to Jesus and asks if he is willing to heal him. Keep in mind that this person would not have been touched or even treated humanely for a long time. But Jesus is more than willing and he touches the man!  To me, this is Jesus not just healing the physical ailment but the heart.

How about you? What role does touch play in your life? Have you figured out touch or are you in isolation?

Dry Bones

29 Thursday Dec 2016

Posted by braddahr in Beginnings, Discovery, health, Observations, recovery

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

Abuse, healing, help, hope, loneliness, recovery, relationships

It’s important to always remember that you’re not alone, others have been there and are willing to support your journey. You can find help, hope, and healing.

If you can, check out Shannon Thomas’ book, “Healing from Hidden Abuse: A Journey Through the Stages of Recovery from Psychological Abuse.”

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Join 325 other followers

Categories

  • Beginnings
  • Discovery
  • health
  • Inspiration
  • Observations
  • questions
  • Rants
  • recovery
  • relationships
  • Sarcasm
  • Shared Post
  • Spirituality
  • Uncategorized

Archives

  • January 2021
  • March 2020
  • July 2018
  • June 2018
  • May 2018
  • April 2018
  • March 2018
  • February 2018
  • January 2018
  • December 2017
  • November 2017
  • October 2017
  • September 2017
  • August 2017
  • July 2017
  • June 2017
  • May 2017
  • April 2017
  • March 2017
  • February 2017
  • January 2017
  • December 2016
  • November 2016
  • October 2016
  • September 2016
  • August 2016
  • July 2016
  • June 2016
  • May 2016
  • April 2016
  • March 2016
  • February 2016
  • January 2016
  • December 2015
  • November 2015
  • October 2015
  • June 2015
  • May 2015
  • April 2015
  • March 2015
  • February 2015
  • January 2015
  • December 2014
  • November 2014
  • October 2014
  • September 2014
  • August 2014
  • July 2014
  • June 2014
  • May 2014
  • April 2014
  • March 2014
  • February 2014
  • January 2014
  • December 2013
  • November 2013
  • October 2013
  • September 2013
  • August 2013
  • July 2013
  • June 2013
  • May 2013
  • April 2013
  • March 2013
  • February 2013
  • January 2013
  • December 2012
  • November 2012
  • October 2012
  • September 2012
  • August 2012

Blog at WordPress.com.

  • Follow Following
    • cultural atheist
    • Join 325 other followers
    • Already have a WordPress.com account? Log in now.
    • cultural atheist
    • Customize
    • Follow Following
    • Sign up
    • Log in
    • Report this content
    • View site in Reader
    • Manage subscriptions
    • Collapse this bar
 

Loading Comments...