When I think community, I think gatherings- at churches, wedding venues, barbecues, friend's family rooms, and restaurants. As a Methodist, who's eaten many a deviled egg and many a jello salad, I think food. As a mother, I think of family stretched around my dining room table playing board games, or opening gifts on birthdays and holidays. But mostly, I think of people. My people. My family. My friends. My church family. My community.
But when a virus too small to be seen, invaded our country, our air, and our bodies, all that changed. And we grieved the loss of hugs and handshakes, shared laughter and shared food.
But love, which is the glue that sticks our communities together, always finds a way.
I got a message on my Facebook feed today from a hometown friend whose family has known my family for decades too numerous to count. Claire went to the town cemetery, unasked, and to the the Stephenson family plot. There she painstakingly cleaned weeds and debris off of the foot stone of my mom's only sibling, who was lost in World War II. Edward's grave sits over in the corner and catches more grass cuttings and leaves than other parts of the plot and I'm sure it was a muddy mess. And when she was done, she added a small American flag. Mom and I were beyond touched at this act of kindness on Memorial Day weekend. That someone remembered. That someone cared.
As I reflected throughout the day, I thought about another friend, Tim, whose family is also and dear to our hearts. He trims the grass in our plot whenever he comes over to attend to his mom's grave. Another someone who remembers. Another someone who cares.
And isn't that the best kind of community? Having someone who shares the precious memory of a beloved family member?
COVID-19 has changed our priorities. It's reinforced the value of those people, near and far, that make the web of love that lifts and supports us. Whether a card for my Mom (thanks Charlotte, Pat, Laura, Ann, Sheila, Theresa, Jo, Joan, Marge and folks too numerous to list!) or fresh baked cupcakes or cookies (Nancy!) or chocolate for the chocolate monster that lives with me (Fran, Ann, Camp) I clearly see each act as an act of love, fellowship, and togetherness.
It's easy to see Christ in the time of COVID-19. Christ is there in the widower farmer who sends his PPE to hospital staff. He's there is the New Yorkers who bang their pots and pans at shift change every night. He helps the children who festoon our sidewalk with chalk greetings and art. Christ is with the nurse with deep grooves in her face from her N95 and equally with the Instacart shopper who tries to find just the right groceries for a hungry family. Christ works in food banks and COVID testing sites. I hear Christ when my neighbor calls to see if I need something at the grocery store. And I see Christ weekly at my church ZOOM services, in each and every smile. And Christ is there every time someone puts on a mask.
Because I'll tell you, there is evil in this world. And it's a loud screeching monster that demands to be seen. It spits on grocery store workers and screams at police officers. It tries to turn a virus into something that divides us as a people. It hoards toilet paper and buys every cut of meat available. And unfortunately, it's in the news. "If it bleeds, it leads" and in this pandemic the beast is causing bleeding everywhere. It's greed, selfishness, and hate. It loves to divide, cause resentment, cause pain. It thrives on misinformation and blame.
But this Memorial Day, I invite you to mute the evil. Look beyond it. Look for the stories of good. And perhaps most of all, look close by. Look to your community. To friends performing simple acts of love that whisper and tell us that Christ is alive and with us every day. And most importantly, pass on those acts of love. Because, like passing of the peace or the exchange of welcoming hugs, performing an act of love for someone else, is the best way to share Christ with others. Which always and everywhere quiets the beast.
Colossians 3:12-14 (NIV)
Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
