To belong is to be human, an absolute, existential necessity. Belonging is a basic animal need and humans are animals. Therefore, belonging becomes an urgent human need. 

Every nation, including Canada, one of most unwavering democracies in the world, has a pragmatic ‘make or break’ need, a fundamental calling or what the Japanese say, ‘ikigai’ to belong to a macrocosm. To the chagrin of begrudging pariah nations as well as with the surpassing rapture of 27 noble nations, Canada now belongs to the European Union. It also belongs to the Commonwealth of Nations, a colonial arrangement. For sure, Canada is member state of the United Nations Organization. Also, Canada belongs to La Francophonie, Group of Seven (G7), Group of Twenty (G20), Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), World Trade Organization (WTO), NATO – North Atlantic Treaty Organization, The Five Eyes, Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), Organization of American States (OAS), Arctic Council and sickly USMCA (United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement). Thanks to the innovative and disticnt leadership of Prime Minster Mark Carney, Canada craved for one more welcoming confederation to connect!

For people, there are social, professional, spiritual, political, fraternal and cultural groups to belong, to connect and circulate for friendship and fellowship where we feel related, connected, enjoyed, appreciated and both treasured and even at times disliked or stared at. One’s identity at a variety of schools, colleges, religious gatherings, political groups and professional associations affirm an unstoppable presence in the community. These personal connections can also lead to loneliness. We all bring along a sense of loneliness and isolation before, during and after all these varieties of links. Many of us in retirement feel left out by former colleagues and clients. A tumultuous life often insists on an awareness to feel good about feeling bad which is a good thing.
For reasons of health issues, lack of productivity etc. most of us feel being left on the bleachers or balconies among the spectators after decades of wrestling in the arena to make a living. The basic purpose of most communities is to find and nurture ways to bond with others. Even in our elderly stages we have a deep desire to succeed in getting the best of growing up and older. It is vital to meet others from a variety of backgrounds and listen to their stories of acceptance and rejection.

The most effective dividends of belonging to faith communities is the thing called ‘community’ where all living, breathing creatures belong in different degrees of involvement. 

Now Canada belongs to a solidly strategic community of nations where our ancient values and political priorities are soundly cherished to the hilt. Last week Prime Minister Mark Carney sketched out ins and outs for this alignment during his address to the European Parliament in Strasbourg. He elaborated on counter economic coercion and trade weaponization, cooperation in essential areas, mobility, education and exchange, democratic norms and multilateralism.

[The Rev. John T. Mathew, The United Church of Canada, Mississauga, ON]