I was truly inspired today when I watched a YouTube video by John Green. You may know John Green from his fabulous stories like Fault in Our Stars, Paper Towns, and Looking for Alaska. What you may not know about him is that he has a YouTube Channel with his brother, Hank. They both post individually on the channel, little messages to each other about what’s going on in their life and the world.
Today, John shared a message that we all need to hear. He described that the magic of being human is the magnificent things that we can do in collaboration. “No one individual human could build water sanitation systems, electrical grids, and transportation systems, and write Hamlet, but together we’ve done all of that and so much more”. John then goes on to discuss the thing that has been polluting our Facebook timelines, Twitter feeds, and News stations: Due to COVID-19, we can no longer be physically together, right now, but it is very important that we stay together to keep what makes being a human magical.
In the last year, Reed and I have been through a lot of transition, together. One of those being trying to find a church that matches both of our needs and convictions. I have a husband who is easily distracted, easy going, and lives in sweat pants. He needs a casual environment that can keep his attention. I, to no one’s surprise, have a lot of opinions. While he is looking at the service, I am researching values and social statements of the individual church and denomination. It makes this search very, VERY, difficult. Some Sunday’s we go to church with friends and family, because we love the service and/or our people. Some Sunday’s we choose to stay at home because we’re so defeated. But, sometimes, when our social anxiety has subsided, we decide to go into the unknown to find what’s best for us. Thanks to my anxiety, enneagram sixness, and Reed’s willingness to go with the flow, the latter are few and far between.
But on Sunday, we were able to try a church, from the comfort of our couch. It was very unusual. It was hard to stay focused when we could just be in bed, and with a dog who does not understand the concept of church. We continued watching anyway. The last song of the service was one of my favorite Worship songs, O Come to the Alter. I was singing, Reed was eating a chicken sandwich, and Tidus was laying on top of us begging for scratches. I started laughing, while still singing, playing with Tidus, and that’s when it hit me: this is what church is. When church first started, it was in homes, with children running around, food being passed, on dirty floors. People came as they were, and it was perfect. Church is not always put together or clean. It supposed to be a hospital for the broken, after all. God doesn’t care that we were in pajamas eating breakfast, but that we were there, and we were intentional about making it a part of our day.
In all the times that I discuss or have discussed the horrors of social media, I am very thankful for it in times like these. It allows us to laugh together, cry together, share what’s going on in our homes, share factual (and un-factual) information to protect each other, educate one another, and even worship together. My beautiful friends have been blowing up our group messages checking on one another and praying for one another. In trying times, it’s when I see the most magical parts of being human.
I’ve been contemplating, as most are, why this is happening. Why now? Why, when we have so much going on? Why has 2020 been so crazy, and we’re only on day 77? Why are people dying, and others are losing jobs? And for the love of God, why are people buying so much toilet paper? I have to remind myself constantly that God does not make bad things happen to us, but does give us more than we can handle so we can cling to him (Job, anyone?). But, what lesson could he possibly be trying to let us hear?
Finally, last night I saw a post that put it into words: You clearly have much to say, Lord.
We need to be listening.
In all of the craziness, I have seen so much more humanity than I believe I would see on an everyday basis. People willing to hold a hand out to those who need it most. People willing to buy groceries for the elderly. Parents spending more time with their kids instead of business calls. More people openly discussing prayer than they normally would. Our community thanking teachers, doctors, and nurses for the jobs that they do every day. Restaurants feeding children who were relying on school lunch to get a meal for the day. People focusing on things they normally wouldn’t be able to, or chose not to. The appreciation we are willing to share when we don’t have to deal with everyday stress is astoundingly loud these days.
I think this is the magic that John Green was talking about, and I think this is what God was trying to say: Help others, take care of your family and neighbors, be responsible, and keep your humanity.
I hate that it has taken a pandemic for us to realize the importance of these things, but I am glad that we are finally listening. But, that’s how it usually is, right? It takes a major event to focus on gratefulness of what we do have and the gifts we are able to spread. It is heart wrenching in the best and worst ways.
So, I will choose and encourage others to choose to do the same. Help in whatever way you can. Pray for our world, and discernment of our leaders. Stay in communication with the people you care about. Provide for those who have lost their jobs, or are no longer able to go. Check on those who struggle more in isolation. Do not lose your faith or your humanity.
And for the love of God, wash your hands and stay home.
Here’s to sticking together, separately.