Walking forward in the communion line as if on my road to Emmaus, I focus my attention on “the source and summit of the Christian life.” So focused, I neglect who is in my periphery, the people of God, the community of faith. I pass the people I don’t know or barely know and I think about my sin, my unworthiness, my silent sufferings, not wanting to be bothered with the concerns of others: the loneliness, anxiety and despair that are rampant in our world. So intent, tunnel-visioned even, I ignore Christ that walks before and behind me, including the ones on the margins of our churches and our world. Pulled forward by our fears and remnants of faith, we move as if alone and isolated, lost in our newsfeeds and conspiracies. According to Surgeon General, Dr. Vivek Murthy, chronic loneliness and disconnection effects over half of the people in our country. This then leads to a loss of hope. Reality, truth and connection are hard to come by. Yet I know where a sense of belonging can begin.

We often question our worthiness and whether we need to earn God’s love and belonging. The movie, “Encanto,” helps us to look closely at what it takes to feel worthy of the gifts we are given and the people who love us. In time, we can realize that no one can earn what is already within us.

Have you ever tried doing three things at once (streaming a show, writing an email and checking social media) only to find that you miss what is most important in the moment? What does it take to really hear what others are saying and to hear what God is saying to you?