By now I thought we would be speaking about COVID in the past tense. “That 2020 was quite the year, but it’s great to be on the other side of it.” Nope. We are stuck in a timey-wimey pandemic vortex that continues to suck the life out of everything. Entire factories are shut down; ships are stuck off the coast of California; there are outrageous supply chain issues; and now there is a massive shortage of truck drivers who typically transport the things that make our daily lives full of goodness.
To further the issues, many folks have become very accustomed to not working, which leaves the poor souls who do work to rack up a ton of overtime (just to keep up with the high demand of customers, mind you) that leads them close to burn out. It seems that in our laziness, we’ve become cranky, too. Watching the evening news is like watching a Quentin Tarantino movie. My goodness, what has happened to us? Have we suddenly turned into the little monsters from Lord of the Flies?
I know, I know, I sound like Debbie Downer. The truth is, I have found it quite challenging dealing with people over this past year. I went from saying, “Have a wonderful day!” to wishing “May a family of gangly gnats take up residence in your armpits.” I know a new normal is being written every day, and that can be scary – but we don’t need to be boo-boo heads about it! Soooooo, what is it that keeps me sane? Well, that’s a tricky question … as it is certainly a matter of opinion if I AM sane. The answer: I continue to associate, watch and try to emulate those who are a light and help for someone else.
I’ve been working with the homeless in Osceola County for 11 years. This ministry is filled with hope, grace, forgiveness, understanding, and sometimes even fun, but it is not for the faint of heart. I have worked and helped murderers, pedophiles, thieves, and folks who just continue to make bad decisions. Through these experiences, I have come to admire many who have come so far to rebuild their lives and start again.
Recently, I attended a swanky vow renewal of one of my volunteers who works in the homeless ministry. It was a very big deal as this couple didn’t get to have a wedding 10 years ago and they were only inviting family and close friends. When I say “big deal,” I mean they were flying in friends and family from as far away as Japan.
As we walked into the church, we could hear the warm and exquisite sounds of a string quartet playing in the background. The elegantly-dressed reception tables were adorned with three-foot floral towers, filled with pale pink roses and white orchids. We peeked into the bustling kitchen and said hello to the private chef who was working furiously to prepare the wedding feast. It was magical. We then made our way to the sanctuary and came upon a long-rolled carpet strewn with flower petals and soft lighting. As I looked around to smile and acknowledge the other attendees, I was caught a little off-guard. You see, on this very exclusive guestlist were a few of the homeless men who we serve each week. Immediately, I was humbled. And grateful. What an amazing act of kindness and love this couple had shown.
It may be a while until we feel like the world hasn’t just gone pure crazy. I hope we can all be gently reminded that OUR actions contribute directly to the people and environments around us. I think this quote from Maya Angelou sums it up perfectly: “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”
Live well, my friends.
