Practice what you Preach

Miss Bertha's house in recent years. In my youth, there were more trees, and rockers on the porch.

Mom has always been someone to see the best in people.

Miss Bertha, the elderly widow next door, despised TV. She kept up to date on state and local happenings in the News and Observer. She kept up with the local "news"  after supper on her front porch. As the broiling summer days cooled down to a bearable temp, and the sky turned inky and full of stars, people gathered on her broad front porch, sitting in creaky rockers or sprawling on her front stoop. Kids, like me, caught lightening bugs, skipping barefoot, while the adults talked.

A lot of "local news" was exchanged on that porch and the Seaboard residents that just happened to be strolling past were always ready to hear the latest. "He said this"  or "She dated who" or "Can you believe he said that?" But amid the eager chatter, Mary Frances always remained nonplussed. She had her own assessments, and they were usually oddly out of tune with the conversation.

"Well, I don't think that's right (accurate.)"
 "I'm sure she didn't mean it."
"You don't know he was drinking."

Miss Bertha held that it was no point in telling Mary Frances anything good; she always made the subject of gossip to be better than they actually were.

What really happened in this circumstances was always impossible to know. Just as impossible as trying to determine what was in a person's heart. And that's always been the challenge for people, and especially hard for Christians. 'Cause we show up spit polished on Sunday morning, but Saturday night we mighta tied one on with our best friend's husband at the juke joint down the road. Who would know?  (Maybe Bubba, but I guarantee, he's keeping mum, too.)

Most of the really deep spiritual stuff is just as invisible. What is in on our heart? Are we lusting after our neighbor's spouse or cussing a big "GD" (in 60's speak) at the driver in the next car? It's a very secretive business. Even those Pharisees who prayed on the street corner never revealed their truest selves.

But now, people, we have a chance to live out our faith. To obey the most simple command, which also happens to be the most difficult to obey. Yep, the Golden Rule. Matthew 7:12.

So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.  

See, we've been asked to practice Social Distancing. And yes, that's a fancy way to say to stay your butt at home. And yes, yes, - the nurses, doctors, pharmacists of you, those who work in factories, or at the CVS, or guy who picks up my garage, I know that's not a choice, I get it. BUT, it means DON'T GO to the PNC Arena for a concert. It means DON'T GO on spring break and gather like fleas on a bloodhound. It's means DON'T sit cheek to cheek around your firepit with a backyard full of bros. 

It does mean keep yourself at home, and away from others. Yes, it'd be GREAT if you don't get COVID19, really excellent - and I hope and pray you don't. But the REAL REASON to practice Social Distancing is that is you find yourself with a thermometer under your tongue and sweat on your brow and an increasing bad cough that you can keep it to yourself, or at the worst, to your fellow "social distancers." It means you are staying at home for the "other guy." The folks in your neighborhood, or grocery store, or any where else. You do it for truly altruistic reasons.  You do it for the "others." And you do it so that the need doesn't overrun the capacity of your local health care system. The chart below shows the real strength of this idea.  

So, if you really care about others,  if you really want to practice what you preach, put your fanny where your heart is, AT HOME. I'm pretty much sure that's what Jesus Would Do. 

And PS, He would not have hoarded Charmin, either.  Leave some for others.