The Difficulty of Maintaining Ongoing Connections in Modern Society

One of the challenging things I've noticed about modern life is the fact that ongoing connections with people these days are often difficult to maintain. This is especially true with social media. My experience is this: people seek me out for friendship and put a lot of time and energy into the interactions for a few weeks or perhaps a few months. Eventually, however, they either tire of the interaction or simply move on to greener pastures.

I've heard something similar from people who use the internet to find dating partners. One relative told me: "I think that because there is so much CHOICE in the world right now, people will date me a time or two, but then figure they'd like to see WHO ELSE is out there. It is frustrating, because the interactions end almost as quickly as they begin!"
This sense of the fragility of human connection is especially true with those of us who do spiritual work. I've discovered over three decades of offering spiritual services that many people expect spirituality to be given completely free of charge, as though the person offering it has no financial needs. "GOD will take care of you" seems to be the common attitude. The principle of reciprocity seems to have gone "out the window" in this modern age of hyper-individuality, and those of us who offer such services are becoming something of an endangered species.
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Add to these trends the fact that people's workplaces no longer feel a loyalty toward them - but will instead replace them on a whim with someone "better" - and you have the prescription for a full-blown societal breakdown.
For myself, I've discovered that time spent developing my relationship with the Divine - both the Sacred Masculine and the Sacred Feminine - through contact with the natural world is one of the chief ways to remain sane and connected.

Photos: (Top) Golden Cottonwoods and green Aspens, with Long's Peak in the background, Rocky Mountain National Park, CO, October 9, 2015; (Middle) Aspens, peaks, and mudflats on the edge of Crater Lake, Maroon Bells - Snowmass Wilderness, CO, September 27, 2015; (Bottom) Aspens and Thimbleberry leaves, near Kebler Pass, September 26, 2015

I am available for one-on-one spiritual direction / mentoring via phone or Skype. You can contact me at canyonechoes@gmail.com if you are interested. The rate is $65 per hour-long session. You might also want to check out my Spiritual Direction with Stephen Hatch Facebook page.
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Many of my photos are available as prints, either mounted or unmounted. Here is a link to the pricing and various mounts available:

http://www.stephenhatchphotography.com/#!mounting-prices/cpr6