It Is the Journey That Matters

Ursula K. LeGuin said, “It is good to have an end to journey towards; but it is the journey that matters, in the end.” Currently the entire world is eager to reach the end of the COVID-19 crisis, and rightly so. However, it is the way we go about getting there that will determine the post-pandemic world we create for ourselves.

If we resort entirely to distraction during our “sheltering in place” time, we will not develop our inner resources of creativity. If we hoard food, medicine, toiletries, and cleaning supplies, we will not grow in compassion. If we do not take responsibility for helping our vulnerable neighbors, we will continue to be disconnected from others after the pandemic subsides.

This crisis has shown us that many of our societal systems are frayed, as evidenced by a great many people without access to health care or sick leave; shortages of medical supplies; underpaid and overworked CNAs in nursing homes; and children without access to computers or the internet at home, to name a few examples. After we weather this crisis, will we attempt to “return to normal,” or will we have developed the insight, determination, and compassion to create new systems that will lead to a safer world for all of us?

While we have this gift of extra time, let’s take a deep breath and consider the steps we need to take to use our resources more wisely, so that all people may flourish. It is within our power to do so, and surely the one who said “When you do this for the least of these, you do it for me” will smile upon and prosper our efforts.