Hugs & Kisses
I wish I could write something meaningful right now that does not mention Covid. But I’m not sure that is possible. Everything of significance seems to have to be seen through that lens right now. It’s also difficult to think of anything new to say about Covid or offer a new perspective. To say everything has changed because of Covid is unnecessary because it is so obvious.
Covid has shone a light both on the fragility of the human condition and the resilience of it. Almost everyone I know has been brought to the brink of breaking at some point in the past year. And yet if you had said a year ago that for twelve months much of the world’s travel would grind to a halt or that virtually everyone would be wearing masks in public or that major league sports would be being played in empty stadiums…people would have thought it was not possible. Yet, here we are, a year later. The way people attend school has completely changed, restaurants that never delivered now excel at takeout, millions of people have given up daily commutes and are working from home, whole new companies and industries have emerged out of the pandemic, and a vaccine has not only been developed and tested, but nearly a quarter of a billion people have received a shot.
Perhaps the most impactful effect of Covid though has been to our social practices. Gone are nights out with friends, worship gatherings, concerts, dinner parties, birthday celebrations, family gatherings, BBQ’s on the deck. Gone too are handshakes, hugs, and kisses. Everyone is aware how this has had an effect on long term care homes where family visits stopped for a while and even still are largely limited to once a week for an hour, six feet apart, masks on, and no touching.
Turns out we are social creatures after all. We need to be with people. New research has shown it is not only close relationships like family and best friends, but the minor casual ones too, the checkout clerk, the barista, the person who walks their dog past your house at the same time you come home from work each day. A year of not being with others, not seeing smiles, not touching other people has taken its toll on us, on our mental, emotional, and spiritual health.
But this week I heard good news, great news. Effective Monday, hugs and kisses are back!
At least in care homes.
Now that residents have been vaccinated, their loved ones can give them a hug, hold their hands during a visit, and even give them a kiss (with observance of hand hygiene)! I assume handshakes are allowed too though it was not specified. This is only good news.
As we journey through Lent on route to the cross, and as we navigate ourselves around loss, hurt, disappointment and grief, let us keep our eyes open to see glimpses of light and experience moments of hope.
As a Lenten practice we invite you to consider not only your own loss, frustration, grief but that of others too. So, consider a group of people or industry that has been heavily impacted, for example: airlines, hotels, cruise ships, restaurants, schools, hospitals, churches, care homes, retail, entertainment, sports (amateur and professional), dentists, barber shops and beauty salons, community centres, artists of all types, and many more. How might they be experiencing grief and loss? What might they be afraid of looking forward? Then consider and look for the glimpses of light and glimmers of hope that you have seen or heard about. Give thanks for these.
The pandemic may not be over, but hugs and kisses are returning.