Do a Google search on the phrase “the silent killer” and you will find a myriad of things that have earned this title. Everything from carbon monoxide exposure to diabetes to high blood pressure to ovarian cancer.
But I propose that millions of people – including many that you and I interact with every single day – are “dying” from another silent killer. And you and I are assisting in their “death.”
What is it, you ask? Who does it affect? How am I an accomplice?
It might be the single mom raising three kids on her own. She’s a waitress at your favorite local restaurant. Each and every day she ties on her apron, fills the pockets with pens, straws and order tickets, and puts on a smile to make your dining experience a pleasant one.
It might be the small business owner of a local establishment. He works long hours to meet the needs of his customers and insure that his employees are taken care of.
It might be the elderly widow who sits at home watching the flurry of activity outside her front room window. She hears the constant ticking of the clock in the silence of her house as time slowly passes.
To the outside world, their lives appear normal and happy and fulfilled. But in the private, they suffer and ache. Not so much physically, as emotionally.
This time of year – Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years – is the worst for them. While everyone around them enjoys the parties, the family get-togethers, and time with friends, they become depressed from a lack of care, love and friendship. The world goes on, while they go unnoticed.
The single mom would love nothing more than to have someone offer to watch her kids so she could enjoy a night out with friends.
The business owner who’s sacrificed his social life to build a stable business for his customers, employees and himself would like to have a circle of friends who invite him to take a break from work and join in for some fun.
The widow who’s confined to her house would love a surprise visit from people in her church or family friends to break up the monotony of the silence and the television game shows.
Yet, you and I are so consumed with our own lives that we fail to even consider what’s behind the facade of the people we meet. Worse yet, maybe we do know their pains and struggles, but choose to do nothing for them.
Unfortunately, it takes a physical illness before many of us respond. The person diagnosed with cancer, the one who suffered a heart attack, the one who just lost a loved one. Those hurting people are easily identified – and we respond (as we should).
But the silent killer of loneliness evades our detection. And we do nothing.
I challenge you (and myself) to dig a little deeper, look a little closer, and listen a little more intently to those around you. See if you can find a crack in the “I’m ok” facade and peer into the reality of those around you.
But don’t stop there. Take action! Do something! Make a difference in that person’s life – even if it’s in just some small, insignificant way.