Lessons Converged

What a time we are having. What times we are having.

Pandemic. Physical distance. Police shooting. Protests. Riots. Tension. Anger. Fear. Spikes. Spats. Spitting.

Like Jacob, let’s wrestle God for a blessing.

Here is my wrestling in the convergence of recent events.

The wearing or not wearing of masks creates both instant and superficial judgment. By the appearance of our face, is there a mask or not, everyone makes a judgment. When I have a mask on and I see someone without one, I want to say, “Brother, I am with you. Don’t think less of me just because I am wearing a mask.” But there are times when I have a mask on and I see someone without one, I think that person is not playing fair or not thinking about others. At the same time if I dash in someplace without a mask having forgotten it, I seek to avert my eyes from engaging all the judging eyes trained on me because of what is or isn’t on my face. They don’t know my heart by what is on my face.

I have learned, a bit, what it is like for people to judge me based on something as superficial as my face.

I find it odd when walking down the street and looking ahead that I see people cross to the other side as I approach. They are afraid they might catch something bad from me. They keep a safe distance… just in case. I am viewed as a (biological) threat just by walking by. There is an impulse for me to shout out, “Don’t fear me.”

I have learned, a bit, how dehumanizing it is to be viewed as a threat just by walking past another person.

Over the past few months I know I have been short tempered. I am frustrated by this virus situation and that it is out of my control. I do not trust those who are making decisions on my behalf. I am anxious about what might happen to me. A thing like fear sits upon my shoulder and whispers incessantly in my ear, “Careful, this is nuts.” All this has made me less able to keep my cool.

I have learned, a bit, how frustrating it is to live with a sense of powerlessness.

The virus situation includes a plague of monotony; one day is the same as the last. No progress. Yesterday is today is tomorrow. More posturing. More statistics. More finger pointing. Still Groundhog’s Day. A dulling discouragement that sharpens discontent.

I have learned, a bit, what it feels like to wake up day after day without hope of progress.

They say you have to walk a mile in another person’s shoes if you hope to understand him. With the convergence of recent events, I have taken at least some significant steps, even if they are baby steps, in understanding what others experience. That seems significant this week.

What has seemed significant to you?