For example, on occasion they would journey up a creek beyond so-called civilization. There they would run across a house and family that was falling apart. No surprise there. That is what they expected. Yet farther up the creek they would find a home that was well-kept and a family that was industrious. What was the difference? It could not be isolation or lack of education for the families were nearly identical in such things. Rather the family that was doing well almost always had a relative nearby, or a neighbor--someone who cared enough to be interested in their welfare.

Everybody needs to know that somebody cares. That is the cause of a lot of the unhappiness, unrest, and uncivilized behavior in our society today. People have become isolated and estranged not only in Appalachia, but in small towns and even great cities. Perhaps we should say especially in great cities. The closer we live physically, the farther apart we seem to drift socially and spiritually. That is why John Naisbitt in his best selling book, MEGATRENDS, calls our age one that needs to provide both high tech and high touch. Naisbitt argues that with increased technology there must also come increased literal and figurative touching of people to fulfill their human needs. Share the gift of God's hope.

Ron Newhouse