Staying Spiritual During a Difficult Time

While people might not agree on the method, everyone needs some form of hope or guidance.

By Jaiden Beason

We can all agree that Coronavirus essentially closed the window of opportunity for many to go out and do things this year. There have been quarantines, curfews, requirement of facial masks, and many other factors that might hinder new experiences and social interaction. So as people wave goodbye to one of possibly the most challenging years society has had to face for a long time, you have to stop and wonder, what is it that helped people make it through something as serious as a global pandemic? Well, some turned to comfort items such as food or tv, others took part in indoor hobbies, or some even talked to friends online. Practicing a religion is an alternate option that people may or may not choose to divulge in. However for those who do choose, like all other forms there has to be safety precautions in place.

Due to the nature of Coronavirus, many clubs and afterschool activities are cancelled or severely compromised. Movers of Belief, for example, is a Christian club at Timber Creek that tries to branch out and talk to people about God respectfully. Prior to the pandemic they’d meet in the courtyard during the mornings and in a classroom after school. Now however, they’ve had to make do and find a safer solution. Bethany Johnson, a sophomore with a leadership position in M.O.B. states, “Usually there’s a service every Friday after school and it’s on Youtube, and then a Zoom meeting afterwards.” By creating Zoom meetings and videos for members to watch and participate in, that eliminates the need to be in person while still allowing for interaction.

The current circumstances might make it hard for people to keep up their faith. A big part of many religions is surrounding yourself with people who are like-minded and believe in the same things you do. In order to keep her connection strong, Johnson stated, “I think why am I here and why did God put me in this leadership position and then I read the Bible.” Having the right mindset and reflecting, as she proves, can really change your perspective on a situation. However, while not everyone believes that religion is something very significant, most agree that everyone needs something. Freshman and self-proclaimed atheist Jacob Beason stated, “There’s not much hope in the world and I can see why someone would turn to a higher power for guidance.” All in all, everyone needs something to keep them going, whether it be through religion or other means.

Humanity as a whole has had quite the year. From pandemics, to natural disasters, everyone has been affected somehow. Every person has had to adjust their lifestyles, whether it be at school, work, or at home. This also means that we all have different ways to cope with the hardships we’ve faced, and depending on the person, each method works better or worse. For some, believing there’s a godly figure to watch over and protect them is all that they need in order to stay motivated. Others might have different ideas in mind, but most still have an understanding of where they are coming from. Now more than ever people need something to believe in, religious or not. So let’s start with believing in ourselves, and expand the horizon.