Biblical friendship in an age of loneliness

I have exactly 633 friends. Face­book tells me so.

Despite these friends, several months ago I woke up feeling desperately lonely. I could hardly sleep, and when I did it was short and fitful. I had arrived at midlife tired, disconnected, and im­mensely sad. Each day I turned to Face­book looking, I suppose, for a lift. I wanted to feel like I somehow mattered.

What I found instead were my friends having the most remarkable time. Stun­ning birthday celebrations, creative birth announcements, wild adventures to unknown corners of the world: my 633 friends were making the most of life while I sat looking at my screen and feeling diminished.