The Case for Social Interaction

A wise man once said  "As often as I have been among men, I have returned home a lesser man."(Seneca, Epist. VII)

A little review may enlighten us more about this quoted admonition.  An admonition that has hounded my personal efforts at improvement all these years.  The reason being that indeed I have noticed that the more I go out of myself and associate with other people, especially for reasons other than for worship or to commemorate or memorialize somber events like wakes or other milestones, I return to myself feeling lesser than the man that I was.  That those occasions have instead contributed to the loss of composure and focus on the things that count.

A time of earnest introspection has then become necessary to make careful assessment or needful repair caused by those unintended lapses, and which I now regularly adhere to.  As a matter of fact, before attending to such likely events if I really have to, I have had to prepare and condition my mind, heart, and efforts, so as not to lose my focus and resolves.

Social interaction has been a deep-rooted part of human nature, and as such it has greatly advanced over the years, so keenly evolved that man now finds it almost second nature.  Many now believe that he has to continually partake of it to live a committed and fulfilled life. We are conditioned to believe that it is in the company of other people that we find our way and salvation.

But referring to our timeless design we are taught that this is not the case.  While indeed it is a critical fragment of human nature, it is supposed to be practiced only if in so doing man himself derives benefits from it.  That is its intended design.  As a tool for man to use for his own salvation and to fulfill his deliverance.  The subject of abuse or over-use then could apply.

We have to learn to navigate through them, and the ways are legion, to find which are beneficial and which would be avoidable occasions that could work against one’s own spirituality. 

Community worship clearly is on example of voluntary gathering where people come together for commendable and inspired causes.  Christ himself had declared that where two or more of his devotees gather together in prayer He will be in their midst.   Thus, even during these pandemic times this community practice ought not be curtailed and ways should be explored where the faithful can continue with their faith practices and worship.

A lot of other coming together events however partake of pleasure and entertainment, and yes, mollifying relief, for the masses, like sports events, live entertainment, or the ever popular gatherings for gustatory delights, or even leisure travel.  These are clearly voluntary social interaction events that could work to the detriment of one’s inner peace and desired solitude.  While they provide temporary relief from our everyday lives of boring routines and the attention to ubiquitous problems of modern life, they could also open up to possibilities of over-use to the point of satiation or ennui.  

This is what is addressed by that admonition about gathering together.  It targets at being discriminating about which ones could work against one’s own salvation.