Betty Firth

I have been hearing stories personally and through the media of the anxiety that many people are experiencing with all the unrest and uncertainty in the world following two years of dealing with a worldwide pandemic. As quickly as we humans get bored with too much routine, we also tend to feel more secure when we have some sense of what’s coming and at least a small dose of control, even if it is an illusion. A fundamental question of philosophy is, “Why are we here?” To one degree or another, depending on our propensity for questioning and soul searching, I think we all wonder at times what it’s all about, and we often seek out individuals or groups whom we can huddle with to help figure it out or at least give us a sense of connectedness with people that make sense to us.
I have attended church at different times and places in my life, and when I land on one that’s a fit for me, which can take some searching, I show up every week. The community and the ritual become a part of my life, and I am faithful to it. It provides an anchor in my week, not in the sense of something heavy holding me down, but more like what a sailboat anchor provides.
I’ve sailed quite a bit on Lake Superior and on other bodies of water, so I have spent many nights moored out, sleeping on board, swinging on an anchor. I learned from a patient, safety-conscious skipper how to choose the right anchor and set it correctly so it wouldn’t release and set the boat adrift while the crew was sleeping. The crew works together to scout the area where you’re going to moor, taking depth soundings and looking for underground boulders or other impediments. You figure out the arc of the boat’s swing so it won’t run aground or hit anything, including other boats. Then drop the anchor and back off, playing out the anchor rope to the correct distance for arc, setting and testing to make sure it is biting into the bottom. It can be done with one or two people but is a whole lot easier with the whole crew working together. Everyone sleeps better if they know the anchor is well-placed and secure.
Communities of faith can provide that kind of anchoring, giving us some boundaries with room to maneuver and explore our beliefs with a crew of folks who are interested in exploring and practicing in similar ways. If we do bang into things, and we all will, we have a network of people around us to help us rebound.
For some people, a religious setting is not a good fit for them. They may not have been “churched” as a child, so the whole thing just seems strange. They may have been disillusioned by what they experienced as hypocrisy in a religious setting, as humans inevitably fall short of perfection, or they might even have been hurt emotionally or physically by adults who were controlling, manipulative, or physically abusive. For young people seeking spiritual guidance and community in a space that should have been a safe haven, such experiences would be devastating and could have lifelong consequences. Whatever the circumstances, many people question whatever beliefs they were brought up with as they determine their own path in life.
But the seeking persists: What am I supposed to do with my life? Am I doing the best thing for myself? For my family? For the world? Why me? Why not me? Does God exist? Are angels and spirits of the dead hovering around us?
Many find peace in their hearts and perhaps some answers to life’s persistent questions in nature, finding solace in the quiet of lakes, woods, oceans, deserts, and mountains, away from the noise of modern life always clamoring for attention. Many find purpose and satisfaction in helping other people through paid work or volunteering and others through creative expression in multiple ways: through visual and performing arts, gardening, carpentry, cooking and a host of other activities that provide outlets for learning, creating, and giving.
They say we are tribal beings, and I see this showing up in our inclination to join groups of others to pursue interests, accomplish goals, and just be with other people who are interesting to us. Perhaps there is a lot of that in America, known for its high level of volunteerism, because families are often scattered across this huge country, and we crave a consistent connection with others of our species, (even though we’re very good at aggravating each other at the same time.)
Most of my adult life I have not had family around, so I have sought out friends and organizations to create my own tribe. I don’t tend to just be a joiner. If I’m interested enough in a group––or a friendship––I’m going to invest my energy in them, building connections, sometimes providing leadership, always caring, at times overcommitting. Why bother if you’re not going to invest yourself? I have had difficulty understanding people who just show up occasionally without contributing much, whether it’s to church, synagogue, mosque, a secular organization, or personal relationships, expecting that others will do the work to keep it going.
It has occurred to me that the same is true of the political scene in America. I think most of us think we’re good Americans, valuing the core principles of democracy, but are we willing to participate to keep the democratic structure healthy and intact? Are we willing to do more than occasionally show up to vote or write a passionate letter to the editor, while going back to life as usual, letting others do the work, hoping they’ll be successful in keeping it all together or creatively figure out a new direction? Democracy is about “us” as in “we, the people.” If you’re concerned, where could you step up and jump in? You might just find that getting involved with others to take action is a great antidote for that underlying anxiety and depression!