Sophie (Chanko) Dare

Another lazy Sunday is coming to an end for me, and even though most Sundays are relaxing in my weekly routine, this one felt off- and so did the last one. Our (and most everyone else's) church services and any other church activities have been canceled indefinitely due to the Corona crisis.

It feels like there's a hole left in my week without the Sunday morning gathering I'm used to. No getting up in the morning and putting on a nice outfit, no singing joyful songs in a room packed with people, no taking notes in the margin of my Bible, no catching up with old friends and new friends alike over lunch afterwards.

Obviously, church in particular holds a pretty important spot in my life because of its spiritual importance. But, religious or not, every single one of us has likely been feeling the weight of something being taken away in this time:

We find it in our weekly bowling leagues, we find it in drinks with our coworkers after the night that the store closes early, we find it in Bible studies, we find it in watching bad movies from the 90's and laughing with our roommates.

Community is such an important part of our lives on this earth, and I don't think many people quite realize that until it's taken away. Knowing that we have people behind us- supporting us, listening to us, making us laugh- is crucial to being truly happy in this life.

A huge part of Sunday morning at our church is the meal- yes, the food is always delicious, but the far more important aspect of it is the fellowship and communication that it fosters. It creates such a welcoming environment for new visitors to meet people and get to know each other.

For me, it gives me a chance to check in with people I wouldn't normally hang out with in day-to-day life- my friends' parents, other, older adults like the pastor's wife, and moms with new babies in their arms. I can talk with anyone in that kitchen and know that they care about me and want to get to know me as a part of the church community.

Seeing our favorite friends and family members in person is the most important piece of that community puzzle, and now that being under quarantine and social distancing is the norm, that integral aspect of life is not around. It's affecting me a lot emotionally, and it makes me continue to hope and pray that this pandemic dies out soon and we can go back to business as usual.

A few days ago, our small group that usually meets at the church building every Thursday night had a video call instead of being around each other in person. Most of the members of the group are full-time students who were abruptly sent home from the University of Michigan dorms in order to curb the spread of the virus. We laughed and talked and shared about what life and classes were like right now, each from our respective houses and couches, from Michigan to Maine.

Even though it still felt like there was a piece missing, I had to feel grateful for the modern technology that allows us to access our communities, even from a distance. Phone calls, video chats, and messages are wonderful ways to stay connected, but there will never be a worthy substitute for being with my friends in someone's apartment, at the church building, or a tea shop downtown.

Community is everything, even when it seems so far removed from us. Take time out of your days holed up at home to reach out to the ones you love, talk on the phone, and try to keep your community alive and thriving. That is one of the simple things we can do right now to boost our spirits and stay encouraged to keep on going.

Happy Sunday! Thanks for reading!