A Case of the 2020's

 

I woke up in a funk Friday. It's a condition I could call the "2020's". 

Disillusionment over relationships too easily damaged. Concern for the people who I love most, who happen to be among those most negatively impacted physically, emotionally, and some even financially by COVID19 and all that has brought with it. Disappointment that even the tragedies we've witnessed haven't softened hearts and made us more aware of others' suffering. Hurt over the way people who share the most essential of values can call each other heretics, idiots, and sheep. Grief after witnessing the death of decency on live television last Tuesday night. Disbelief over the strange plot twist given to the world via Twitter early Friday morning. And an overwhelming sense of dread for what the inevitable ripple effects might be. 

This sounds like a drug commercial. If you have these symptoms....

My drug of choice? I chose to grab the Dutch Brothers gift card I had waiting for such a time as this, and pull into the parking lot for something tall, dark and caffeinated on my way into the office.

But, as I pulled in, full of foggy thoughts, and selfish ambition, I accidently cut off someone trying to pull into the line from the other direction. If you've been to the Dutch Bros I go to, you can picture how this could happen.

Oh well, I thought. But then I immediately felt checked. I halted, and waved the forward to take the space I left. They declined. I tried. But then I looked at my $10 gift card in my hand and I felt God nudging me.

Maybe this was one of those times when I needed to be one of those people who paid for people behind them in the Dutch Bros line. I'm going to be honest, I don't even always do that when someone pays for mine. Please don't judge me. I figured a gift is a gift and I'll find ways to pay it forward later. Now was later. 

But God, I argued, there's more of them in the car. This will probably cost more than I have left on the card. This was supposed to be MY free birthday drink because I have a bad case of the 2020's and I need it!

Don't you think they might ALSO be suffering from a bad case of the 2020's? They live on this planet too, after all? I felt Him say. 

I say a lot about showing kindness, about putting others before ourselves, and showing completely unconditional love. And here I was fighting with God over a $10 Dutch Bros card, and someone I accidently cut off in line. 

So, I think you know how this ends. After giving the news to the guy who took my order, I bit my lip as I waited for him to come back with their total, half giddy and half praying they weren't taking drinks to an entire football team. 

After I pulled up to the window and got my drink, I happened to glance in the rearview mirror before pulling away, and there were those three young girls waving wildly and smiling broadly. SMILING! It made me realize how long it had been since I'd made someone smile like that. And for a while all of the disappointments and hurt, and worry, and grief melted away. I had such joy in sharing their joy. I'd trade a second iced cocomo o whip for that any day!

Here's what this isn't about-

1. This isn't about making myself look good. I've been the recipient of these small kindnesses much more often then the giver I'm sure. And I realize that our true acts of generosity should be done in private. But I feel like we need to share these kinds of stories right now. We need to encourage and inspire each other to find the little day to day ways to make this world a little kinder and happier.

2. This isn't to diminish HUGE systemic problems, such as racism, that need much more work to be fixed. Sometimes we need big movements, critical mass and firm and uncomfortable conversations. So this isn't to say that voting doesn't matter, or laws and government are worthless. Please don't hear that. 

But here's what I am saying-

1. Don't let kindness go out of style. Why is being nice suddenly seen and stupid and weak? Treat each other with dignity and respect. Use nice words. Do things "just because." Have you read Luke 6:33? A lot of details in the Bible are open to interpretation, dependent on context. Sometimes the Biblical view on modern world issues can be a bit fuzzy and vary by denomination or culture. Loving our neighbor is not one of them. It's pretty clear by "neighbor" it means people who don't vote like us, look like us, think like us, believe like us. I'm sure I get a lot wrong, but when in doubt, I'd always rather ere on the side of being too kind.

2. We can spend a lot of time worrying about who gets elected, who gets the senate seats, and especially who's in the oval office. These things are real and they matter. Sure we can pray about them, and participate in them to a certain extent. But, we can not live our life each day just waiting until one day in November every four years where we get a chance to change everything. Changing everything happens seven days a week 365 days a year. Slowly and steadily. What are you doing TODAY that makes the world a better place? That participates in "Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven?" That shows the light of Christ shining through us? 

I ask this, not to pile on more guilt, but because we NEED these stories right now. I NEED to know that people are still kind and compassionate. I know they are, but sometimes that heavy cloud of the 2020's gets in the way. Let's share our stories. Let's do the things we can do RIGHT NOW to spread goodwill on earth.

"He has shown you, O (man), what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God." Micah 6:8