On April 27, 2012, Susan Savage couldn’t get into her neighbor Yvette Vickers’ home. Susan was alarmed by the yellowing fan mail from around the world for the former actress that was stuffed into Vickers’ mailbox. Nearby, her gate sat barricaded against intruders. Pushing through, Susan searched for signs of life. The beautiful home had been used for famous photo shoots but lay cluttered with the debris of life, including letters scattered through the rooms and halls. Upstairs a small space heater still hummed and a cordless phone lay inert on the floor. Yvette’s computer was still running, glowing in the gloom. Somewhere nearby she had a rough draft of her autobiography, but Yvette lay on the floor dead. Experts believe she had died of “natural causes” almost a year before.
Yvette had been married twice, had many other male friends and was admired by thousands. Her neighbor Susan said, “To the end she still got cards and letters from all over the world requesting photos and still wanting to be her friend.” Those letters just kept coming long after she was dead.
How could someone have so many friends and die unnoticed? How can people pile up the Facebook friends, get connected with hundreds on LinkedIn and have thousands of Twitter followers and yet feel so alone? Why can we interact with more people than ever and feel even more alone?
Eric Klinenberg insists, “It’s the quality, not the quantity, of social interaction that best predicts loneliness.” Being deeply known, accepted and loved are important to all of us. Flattering requests for our photo, compliments on our artwork, and praise for our opinion don’t provide the deep “emotional nutrition” that we innately crave. We were created for something far more intense, personal and enduring.
God’s Word, the Bible, says, “God created man in His own image” (Genesis 1:2727So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. (Genesis 1:27)). We were made to share a closeness and an intimacy of feeling that for many is a distant dream. Anger, envy, bitterness, selfishness, rebellion and lust creep in to pollute relationships that were meant for joy and nearness. It isn’t only the “other guy’s fault,” because God has said, “All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:2323For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; (Romans 3:23)).
More than anyone else, the Lord Jesus Christ has done what was necessary to break down the barriers that separate. He has suffered personal rejection, physical suffering and the anger of a holy God against sin to have the right to say, “Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:2828Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. (Matthew 11:28)). Now that is a quality relationship if ever there was one! One side, the innocent side, of the broken relationship has chosen to take all the suffering and pain so that a reconciling can take place. Where else can you find love like that?
We’re not talking about exchanging fan mail, clicking a “like” button or pressing “connect.” Speaking of the future when he would be in the physical presence of the living man Christ Jesus who had died for him, the Apostle Paul said, “Then shall I know even as also I am known” (1 Corinthians 13:1212For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. (1 Corinthians 13:12)). He also said he would see Jesus Christ “face to face.”
We’d all agree with Susan Savage when she said of Yvette, “We’ve all been crying about this; nobody should be left alone like that.” It’s right to care that no one dies alone and forgotten. How much more important to respond to the call from the Lord Jesus, “Come unto Me.” That will open up the whole depth of meaning behind His promise to those that receive Him as Saviour, “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee” (Hebrews 13:55Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. (Hebrews 13:5)).