For healthy people, spiritual community participation–as exemplified by religious service attendance – is associated with healthier lives, including greater longevity, less depression and suicide, and less substance use. For many patients, spirituality is important and influences key outcomes in illness, such as quality of life and medical care decisions.

Through deep listening, a spiritual companion can help others explore a deeper relationship with God. Like other forms of contemplation, a spiritual companion or spiritual director helps people connect more deeply with the True Self, without judging, proselytizing, or preaching. Maybe that sounds good to you, at a time like this. There are many people in the Twin Cities that do Spiritual Direction, in a variety of ways. Most are Christian, some are not.

We live and move and have our being in these physical bodies that need tending. Especially in times of stress as caregivers, as grievers, every cell of our bodies labors. What we eat, how we move, how and when we rest, how we laugh and cry, who and how we touch, it's all connected. Make sure it's all working with you, not against you, in times of hardship.