Connections, Engagement & our Crisis of Meaning

Kurt Vonnegut once said, “What should young people do with their lives today? Many things, obviously. But the most daring thing is to create stable communities in which the terrible disease of loneliness can be cured.”

Last June the Vancouver Foundation released a study on Connections and Engagement in Vancouver. Much of the survey identified saddening but unsurprising information about the challenges of meeting neighbours and being involved in the community, especially in a city where people move frequently, and have to work extra-long hours just to feel they are getting by financially.  The one finding that particularly grabbed my attention was that when asked about obstacles to community engagement, 61% of respondants stated that one of their obstacles is “A feeling that [they] do not have much to offer”. The study talks about the experiences of loneliness and isolation, but I think a big part of what we are experiencing is a crisis in meaning. So what does it look like to address that?

In Vancouver last night, the Vancouver Foundation & Simon Fraser University hosted a sold-out public forum called “Alone Together: Connecting in the City”. In addition to music and poetry, former Vancouver city planner Larry Beasley spoke about the need to get rid of old bylaws and zoning that keep up apart, and re-shape cities in ways that facilitate connection. And Toronto activist Dave Meslin talked about the importance of civic engagement, of deepening the democratic process so that people really feel that their voices matter.

These things are deeply entwined. Often we see communities trying to address the crisis of meaning with volunteerism: shoreline clean-ups, charity walk-a-thons, etc. These things are a great gateway. And they should be honoured and treated as such, as a means of getting people engaged in larger and more systemic ways. Our crisis of meaning isn’t about wanting to feel valuable for an afternoon. It’s about developing an understanding of the world in which our lives are of ongoing significance to one another, and to the world at large. It’s an inherently spiritual AND political challenge. One that I think people are increasingly starting to pay attention to.

For now, we are going to keep doing our thing. We’ve got another dinner coming up in East Vancouver, next Sunday, Sept 30th. You can RSVP below, and pass this info along to help spread the word. And keep your ears open as we continue to explore spiritual and political responses to our collective longing for meaning and connection.

Reconnecting to Life

… Is a transformative group retreat to enliven and deepend our motivations for creating a just and sustainable world. October 27th and 28th, 2012, at Royal Roads University in Victoria, BC. Led by Olive Dempsey and Jackie Larkin, Reconnecting to Life is rooted in ‘The Work That Reconnects’, a pioneering form of group work developed by eco-philosopher Joanna Macy. It has helped many thousands around the globe find insight, solidarity, and courage to act. Click here to find out more and register.

Alone Together: Connecting in the City

On September 18 – 23rd – the SFU Public Square is hosting its inaugural Community Summit. The events are designed to explore civic isolation and disconnection in the cities of Metro Vancouver, and consider how we can come together to strengthen engagement and connection across community and cultural ties. The events include music, films, youth dialogue, and much more. Click here to find out more about the summit.