Headlines

A friend recently shared a post, written by Beverly Geer, that continues to stay with me.  Suffice it to say, I have been moved, inspired, encouraged, convicted, challenged, and motivated by two people I have never met, but who give me hope for a better today and tomorrow.

Sometimes I just want it to stop.  Talk of COVID, protests, looting, brutality.  I lose my way.  Become convinced that this “new normal” is real life. 

But then I meet an 87-year-old who talks of living through Polio, diphtheria, Vietnam, protests and yet is still enchanted with life.  He seemed surprised when I said that 2020 must be especially challenging for him.  “No,” he said slowly looking me straight in the eyes, “I learned a long time ago to not see the world through the printed headlines, I see the world through the people that surround me.  I see the world with the realization that we love big.  Therefore, I just choose to write my own headline.  “Husband loves wife today.”  “Family drops everything to come to Grandmas bedside.”  He patted my hand “Old man, makes new friend.” 

His words collide with my worries, freeing them from the tether I had been holding tight.  They float away.  I am left with a renewed spirit.  My headline now reads “woman overwhelmed by the spirit of kindness and the reminder that our capacity to love is never ending.”

And we, too, have the opportunity to choose and make the headlines we believe in, live by, and trust.

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things.

Philippians 4:8