Effort Required

I elected to use a less controversial headline knowing that including the word “mask” would trigger preconceived emotions that would determine 'read-this' or 'immediately discard'.

Please know that this writing ignores the politics of face-coverings - completely.  Although this article discusses wearing a mask, it is incidental to the goal of unity and solidarity with others. 

As many states have mandated the use of PPE, you might find that whether or not you want to accessorize by cloaking nose, mouth, and chin, you’ll eventually be faced (pun intended) with an adornment-required situation, if only for a few moments.

Let’s pretend.  Those little strings are tightly bound around your ears. You might be very comfortable with your cheek-curtain or you might be thinking, "This is the longest 10 minutes of my life." 

I Found My Way to You

It’s not healthy.  Well, it’s not healthy for me.

I’m talking about social media.  I’m talking about what it’s done to me - to us.  Division, strife, and polarization are continually created through bitter arguments between people who love each other and between people who have never met each other.  

The only goal is to state our unequivocally right opinions so that we can incite.  We enjoy confrontation.  We seem to get some kind of life from arrogant displays of outrageous.  We have concluded and promoted ‘all-things-for-me-and-mine’ while leaving a concept known as ‘for the good of all’ dying in the dust of the road.  We serve only ourselves while exercising ‘I-am-right’ power using keyboards to browbeat dissenters.

We ‘like’ and ‘share’ divisiveness because silo is more important than people.

A system that was originally promoted for the exciting potential of learning by reaching new global connections has become a system of me-and-my-tribe to prove that we are more right, more opinion-connected, more exclusionary than ever before.  

One Thing: Superlatives

Biggest

Best

Greatest

Enormous

Immense

Humongous

Massive

We hear these words daily from every source imaginable.  Texas-sized is expressively important to our society.  There’s an insatiable need to demonstrate the win-of-importance as judged by sheer magnitude.

Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave— just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many. 

Matt 20:25-28

Choosing to be last is counter-cultural. We are not conditioned for this as our expectations are fulfilled only with superlatives.  

But the choice to care is right there in front of us.  We are given fortuitous opportunities to serve if we live in anticipation of possibility.

Yesterday, I read the following news story.  The whole interaction must have taken just a few minutes. There was no grandeur associated with the actions.  There were no news cameras, no crowds, no fanfare. It was only a moment of compassionate service.

This is how I want to live.

Mystery Soldier from Minnesota

One Thing: Look Closer

I see all kinds of speed-limit signs but never one like this.  It makes me ask questions like, "Who decided 19 mph is the right speed?"  But maybe it was just someone wanting the rest of us to notice the abnormal.  Maybe the goal was to catch us for a moment, make us think about slowing down. Maybe the expectation was that we'd actually act on this thought.

I wonder how many times God places someone or something in our path with the same hope; that we would notice, consider, and then act?  

I plan to look closer.  

Show me your ways, LORD, teach me your paths. Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long. Psalm 25: 4-5

Turn Around. It's Too Late.

"Turn around. It's too late

This phrase has been running around in my head and heart for the past number of days.  I am convinced that it will be a continual presence for the rest of my life.

Spending our time in some conflict that serves only to separate and divide just can’t be who we are.  Spending our time focusing on polarizing differences just can’t be who we should be. There will come a time when words and actions that serve to validate rightness over righteousness will hurt - all of us. 

There will come an instant when the distance is stretched too far and available time expires too soon..



This past Tuesday, I called my supervisor around 3PM and explained that although I had already taken Thursday off work, I would need to take Wednesday as well.

After packing and taking a short nap, I awoke, showered, and walked out the door with a cup of fresh coffee.  It was about 9:30 PM.  The plan was to drive through the night reaching St. Paul by 9AM Central. 

I didn’t get far.

The call came and my sister said,  “Turn around – it’s too late. Mom has passed."




Mom and I were at peace.  We didn’t have any arguments and experienced no separation.  We talked frequently but had not laid eyes on each other since Christmas.  And now, that moment has been recorded in history as the very last time. 

I say these things for some personal but clearly momentary relief.  I say these things to remind myself and anyone who will listen, that politics never matters as much as people. I say these things to reinforce the idea that small acts of kindness really do matter and that we shouldn’t miss opportunities to display our love for others.  I say these things because nobody wants to hear the words, “Turn around, it’s too late.”

I have one last picture.  It was taken at mom’s nursing home on National Donut Day.  I had thought I could gather together #groupsof10 to send these round deep-fried treats for my mother, the staff, and the residents of her home.  I didn’t push it, though.  And, perhaps because of this, nobody volunteered.  I did it alone – sad that it wasn’t the intent but now delighted as it provided this last photo.

Don’t misunderstand.  There’s no finger-pointing here by any means. 

I’m just trying to say that we need to care for each other in hundreds of small and simple ways while rejecting the culture of societal polarization.  No conflict should ever interfere with showing love to others. 

We are to live as Jesus lived. 

We are to prioritize people over rules, regulations, politics, and opinions. 

I was taught this as I read the stories about Jesus.

I was taught this by my mother.

Rest In Peace, Mom.  We love you.