This past Sunday in church, as I held my tiny plastic cup of juice and the world’s least flavorful wafer, I couldn’t help but wonder—was this communion or just a solo snack break? What’s meant to be a deeply communal act felt surprisingly individual. Looking around, I saw everyone focused on their own moment of reflection, and it made me think: have we traded the rich, shared experience of communion for something more convenient but less connected?
This observation led me to think more broadly about how individualism shapes our modern practices, and its impact on our sense of community.
Communion and Individualism
Communion, traditionally a time of shared faith and unity, has in many ways become a more private, individual experience. While there’s value in personal reflection and accessibility—allowing people to connect with their faith in their own way—we might also be missing the collective spirit that strengthens our bonds as a community. This individual focus, while important, can sometimes lead to a sense of isolation, detracting from the communal experience that brings richness to our spiritual lives.
Broader Implications
This trend isn’t limited to spiritual practices. The rise of meal delivery services and virtual fitness classes also reflects a broader cultural shift toward convenience and personalization. With meal delivery, people can enjoy restaurant-quality meals at home, tailored to their exact dietary preferences, eliminating the hassle of grocery shopping and meal prep. Similarly, virtual fitness classes make it easier than ever to squeeze in a workout without commuting to the gym, offering flexibility and a vast selection of instructors and programs to suit individual needs. However, these conveniences come with trade-offs. With meal delivery, the ritual of cooking and sharing meals with family or friends is often lost, reducing opportunities for connection around the dinner table. Likewise, virtual workouts, while effective, lack the camaraderie, motivation, and real-time encouragement that come from sweating alongside others in a gym or studio. As we embrace these modern conveniences, we must also consider what we might be sacrificing and whether there are ways to reclaim the communal aspects of these experiences.
Finding Balance
As we navigate these modern individualistic practices, it’s important to recognize the value of community. While personal choice and individual experiences are valuable, we mustn’t forget the strength and support found in shared experiences. By consciously fostering communal bonds, we can enrich our lives and find a deeper sense of connection.
Reflecting on my experience in Ukraine, where we shared communion by passing a loaf of bread and sipping from a common cup of wine, I was struck by the deep sense of community. Of course, sitting in the back meant you might end up with a little more backwash than those up front! While this kind of communal experience might not fit perfectly into American culture, especially within our church practices, there are still ways to cultivate meaningful communal moments. Whether it’s through small gatherings in homes or finding ways to make even individual acts more intentional, there are opportunities to reclaim the richness of shared experiences. Let’s transform individualistic actions into communal experiences that enrich our faith and lives.
Note: I like having fun with AI. It helped me write a lighthearted version of this post that you can check out here. You’ll need a password for it, though, and you can ask me for that. 🙂