They call loneliness ‘the great modern plague.’ The extended family with networks of relatives close at hand became the nuclear family, which is increasingly being replaced by the single parent family, or the single person living alone. We are also a highly mobile society, and live mainly in large anonymous cities with little sense of community. Despite the material benefits, the result for many is a dreadful sense of emptiness, which, for some, becomes unbearable. If there is one thing Jesus would want to say to the people of this generation I think it would be to re-phrase his well known words: ‘Come unto me all ye who are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest…’ to: ‘Come to me all you who are lonely, and I will be your friend.’ It may sound simplistic, but millions have found it true.