If you take the time to watch the video above you will realize that Simon Sinek knows his stuff. Maybe you have seen him before in THIS VIDEO where he manages to precisely define a successful DNA structure of any company. Once again Simon hits the nail on the head of a major issue companies are dealing with in our society.
However, if we take the time to look beyond the corporate theme in the video we can see a number of implications and opportunities for the church. Simon is saying that millennials, and indeed many of us, need to figure out how to put down our cell phones and technology and learn (or re-learn) how to connect to one another in face to face conversation. In fact, he goes beyond suggesting the real benefits of human interaction to say that failing to regulate our social connections through technology can be dangerous.
As a priest I have not only experienced this damaging artificial social life in dealing with millennials but with many people who enter our community. The reason for this is that Colorado Springs, as anyone who lives here can tell you, has a high turn over rate with our population. People are constantly moving in and out of our community. That is, by itself, a significant factor for a lack of personal social connection, but it is further compounded in northern Colorado Springs, where St. Michael's is located. Things are worse in this end of town because, like many places, there is no community center. Northern Colorado Springs, is simply a town of very nice strip malls and grocery stores. What this means is, that once you move into this area, its difficult to get to know anyone without making a real effort.
It is in this culture that the church has an opportunity to help people manage this real social disconnect. The reason the church can help is because, more than any other origination, the church can help people enter into deep, meaningful relationships with other people. This is done, of course, through small group ministry and the many social gatherings churches offer. In addition, the church also has the antidote to this disease, by way of its connection to the divine. After all, what could more opposite of the dopamine producing high of a Facebook "like" than the deep abiding connection to God we get through contemplative prayer or corporate worship.
I say all of this to both inform and inspire my fellow church going Christians to seek out people in our community who in need of what we take for granted. We need to help people understand the deeply valuable and healthy spiritual connections we have with our brothers and sisters in Christ in our churches. Finally, and perhaps more importantly, we need to help people who are suffering this loneliness, find the fullness of their humanity in the source of divine love with God.
