What is Missing?

I was part of a big family in a small house-tiny really-three small bedrooms and one bathroom for eight of us-six kids and my parents. I spent some time sleeping on a cot in the hallway and even more time in a highly unfinished, musty basement.

We always had enough food and clean clothes and a canoe in which to paddle away to any quiet spot-there aren’t as many quiet spots as there used to be. Life was simple and simply beautiful.  We had time to explore the woods and paddle the creek-bike, and hike and feel the elements.

Most of us were Brownies-I saved my sit-upon in the attic for years. We played on almost all of the sports teams, we were part of the senior play and all of the musicals. There was a folk group at Saint Andrews and I was inspired by Sister Ines to pick up the guitar and teach myself how to play.  It didn’t matter that I never had a starring role in a play-or that we had some seasons in Field Hockey in which a single goal was never scored-it was all about being together, singing on the bus, learning to play fair, to share, and to be a part of something bigger than ourselves.

We went to church every Sunday and played in the park after Mass. On Thursdays we were let out of school early to run down Division Street unsupervised- to Saint Andrews for ‘Church School’, that’s what we called it back then. It was not necessarily my favorite hour of the week but there too I learned to be part of something bigger than myself.

And now, regardless of the pandemic, on any given Sunday there seem to be more cars in the K-Mart parking lot than at most of the churches combined. Though I’m not certain, I don’t believe there are any more Brownies or Cub Scouts here-and I think my brother helps to lead one of the last remaining Boy Scout Troops in town. I don’t know of any active youth groups and I hear that YARD (Youth Advocacy Resource Development) and beach night have ended permanently. And I start to wonder-what is missing?

I know a lot of folks are spiritual but not religious-I imagine many find their higher power on beach walks and hikes in the woods. But it seems that places kids can go to discuss the big questions and connect to each other may be disappearing. We seem to be peeling away the deeper layers and living on the surface. 

Many adults are so busy that very few are able to volunteer their time-and from what I notice kids are spending more and more time with technology than with creation. Is there a need to move backwards in order to move forward? To reassess our priorities and how we spend our time? Can we find ‘unity’ once again in comm’unity’ and find a place where our kids can come together and connect on a soulful level?

I’d love to hear your thoughts-what is missing?