I've been thinking I should start writing again. This morning while walking the dog I was thinking about the pandemic, and how it's changed the way I see a lot of the people I have in my life. It has been interesting to watch the dynamics of personal interactions. Watching the kindness and compassion has humbled me. Many have reached out to those during times of need finding ways to serve and show love in a world where being together physically felt dangerous. People dropped off groceries, medicine, and meals. There were phone calls, video calls, and text messages. Blessings were given and received in a variety of ways and we remembered how much good there is in the world.
Unfortunately, there are also some who made the opposite choice. Fear, derision, and anger drove their actions rather than kindness and compassion. They took this chance and rather than finding ways to improve chose to point out everything that they thought was wrong - wrong with the response to the pandemic, wrong with people around them, wrong with the way others were acting to protect themselves with the knowledge they could gain about what was going on in the world. They villianized political leaders, doctors, scientists, and their own neighbors. Those who were more conservative than others were made fun of for their caution. Others who chose to exercise less caution were accused of being "Typhoid Mary" in the pandemic.
I'm sure you've all seen examples of both in your lives. This just goes to show (remind?) me that there is always a choice in the world. When we disagree with those around us, we can make fun, or we can have a conversation and strive if not for understanding at least for civility. Thank you to all those who had such conversations with me.
