We’re in the middle of a world-wide pandemic, and today I interacted with 41 people.
More specifically, I interacted with 37 adults, 2 little boys, 1 baby in his Mama’s arms, 1 dog, and 1 little girl who’s Dad wouldn’t make eye contact with me.
Today, I went for a jog. But today, I looked for the opportunities to connect with other people along my route.
41 faces.
41 waves.
41 hello’s.
41 smiles.
41 moments of joy.
41 opportunities for human connection in the midst of a pandemic.
All while 6 feet apart, all while adhering to the laws, and all while continuing to keep the posture of “seeing people through Jesus’ eyes,” and not through the lens of a virus or the fear of an infection.
One of those interactions was a man named James. James is an elderly man who was walking along the same road that I was, but on the opposite side. James was alone, and so was I, and so I spoke. James lives right behind my godfather Ray’s condo. James and I had some sweet conversation as we walked along that little neighborhood road together.
One of those interactions was a man in a wheelchair named Jeff. Jeff is an elderly man who has speech and physical impairments, but loves to be outside “when it’s pretty.” Jeff was sitting alone in his wheelchair, and God told me to go talk to him. So I did. I found out Jeff prefers the shade to the sunshine on bright days. I found out Jeff lives near the duck pond we were staring across, and that he and his caretaker, Patrick, come outside around the same time each day. Patrick stood in the far distance, but came nearer to chat when he saw Jeff and I conversing. We discussed my travels to Southeast Asia and Jeff told me he was happy I was home safely. Patrick said “God bless you” upon my jogging back down the road, and I told them I hoped I would see them tomorrow.
One of those interactions was a little girl who was holding her Daddy’s hand as they crossed the road together. Dad wouldn’t look at me, but from behind Daddy’s elbow, she caught my eyes, smiled, and we waved at each other as if to silently say, “Hey, girlfriend.”
And one of those interactions was Ryan; one of my mutual friends from church. I walked towards the Passion City parking lot for the first time since being back in the U.S., as it’s just down the block from where I was jogging. Ryan also happened to be walking in front of Passion City. As we were walking towards each other and waving, we realized we KNEW each other. Ryan was actually a stranger to me before we connected at Passion Conference just a mere 3 months ago, and that stranger became a friend that was one of the last people to pray over me in the oval before I left for The World Race. Ryan and I were able to stand 6 feet apart, in front of the parking lot of our church, and pray together yet again. What a sweet, beautiful gift from our Father.
We are in the midst of a pandemic; the midst of a virus that is attacking our world in the most heart breaking and horrifying way. Touching people, being close to people, and gathering in public places isn’t allowed.
But.
We can still make eye contact.
We can still smile.
We can still wave and say ‘hello!’
We can still take an ear bud out to hear the ‘hello’ back.
We can still walk by someone and pray for them.
We can still love each other.
We can still foster into the miracle of human connection.
For all world racers, and all believers: our families, friends, and neighborhoods are now our mission fields. They should’ve always been, but they are now, more than ever. I have never felt this strong of a call to share light, joy, hope, and love with my immediate surroundings like I do now.
But it’s needed; now more than ever.
It’s my prayer that this becomes our new norm. It’s my prayer that this will become my new norm, and not just a one-time, wonder-filled experience that I share in a blog. It’s my prayer this becomes the new norm of the world. Let’s start noticing each other. Let’s start speaking more and smiling more. Let’s start taking the opportunities that are all around us to connect; even if those opportunities don’t extend past the four walls of our homes, or the blocks of our neighborhoods. Let’s start looking for the setups God may be placing in front of our eyes. Let’s start looking for the little girls to smile at, and the Jeff’s and James’ to talk to.
“Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.” (1 John 4:7) Be the love in these days. Let people see God within your everyday life– inside or outside of a pandemic. We need God, and each other, now more than ever. Let’s bring Heaven to earth. What do we have to lose for trying?
I heard someone say the other day, that the worst possible outcome of this pandemic is if we come out on the other side of it, and haven’t changed from the way we went into it. Let’s be the change. Let’s come out changed. Let’s come out better; together. If we can generate this closeness and love now, at a distance of at least 6 feet apart, imagine the love and connection we will step into once this is all over. Imagine the world we will be living in. What a dream.
Loving you big time, blog babes. Big time.
Don’t you forget, “this is (still) just the beginning…”
#leavehope #wakeupthewonder
