Zooming the Pandemic 3 - Letting the Spirit In

In the third episode of Zooming the Pandemic, writer Deni Loubert explores how the citizens of New Westminster are getting through the current pandemic by letting their spiritual side into their lives. 

It begins with a look at how the daily 7 pm salute to our front-line workers at the nearby Royal Columbian Hospital can be a healing process for both the author and the others she sees around her. There is a show of overwhelming support as they come together. It is seen in the salute by both nearby residents as well as a parade of fellow front-line workers in police cars, ambulances and fire trucks. Together they give a sense of connection to this community.

But beyond that feeling of togetherness that can bind a neighborhood, there is also a need to find spiritual solace. With many of the local churches, temples and synagogues closed to gatherings, how does someone find that support? That question is explored in the first interview – with Minister Meg Roberts of the local Unitarian Church. 
Unable to hold services at the Sapperton Pensioners Hall where they would normally be, Meg explains the process she went through to discover how and why Zoom was the right vehicle for bringing her congregation together. She discusses her own misgivings, her struggles with the new technology and how the unique properties of Zoom allowed her to reach out and offer support and comfort. 

But an organized church is not the only way that many people express their spiritual side. Nature can be very healing, and the practice of forest bathing is discussed in the next interview. This idea that spending time simply being aware of the beauty and simplicity of the forest while immersed in it is growing in popularity. Fellow retiree Suzanne Holman explains her reasons for turning to this practice as she hikes along a trail up nearby Burnaby Mountain.

Finally, Loubert returns to her interview with Connie Thoreson from the previous episode to discuss how meditation can help many to look within for spirit. Finding a way to create quiet and stillness is never easy, especially in this trying time. Connie teaches meditation to people who are new to the practice, and offers to share her insight. She leads a simple exercise in meditation that anyone can do anytime – to gain that slow calm we all need during the unease of life in a pandemic.

So where do each of us need to go to find that spirit within? From taking pleasure in the ordinary sounds of life to reaching out to our community, we can all find our own path. The episode ends with the conclusion that each of us has a way to find that peace – and to express it in kindness and patience as we wait out the pandemic and get on with our own lives.