The “second pandemic.”  I first encountered that phrase on the door of a closed restaurant here in town.  The lack of workers had made it impossible for this business to open for lunch, and instead were focusing their efforts at dinner time.  Yesterday, I read an article on CNBC (https://www.cnbc.com/2021/06/29/more-people-plan-to-quit-as-return-to-work-plans-go-into-effect-.html)  that claimed 95% of the people were considering changing jobs; they called it the the “great resignation.”  And while today our local region of the world has higher vaccination rates and is enjoying a respite from the waves of COVID-19, just a few hours south in Illinois and in the lower U.S. numbers are rising.  While we are enjoying so many things once again after a year plus of staying at home, it is clear that the stress and anxiety of our world is still very high and is still affecting each of us.  Emerging from the pandemic seems almost as hard as enduring it.  

I am reminded of something simple this morning- that there is so much we cannot change.  However, we do have choices on how we react, and now we treat others.  

I thought about the restaurant business- I have read article after article about how customers are a large part of the reason people do not want to return to customer service jobs.  And I realized, that one of the simplest and purest ways to love your neighbor is to simply be kind to them.  “Compassion,” Deacon Tim preached Sunday, “is a key marker of disciples of Christ Jesus.” (https://www.stmichaelsbarrington.org/component/preachit/message/343/watch?Itemid=807)

Perhaps it sounds cliche, but in our time and place Christians can help lead the way in reclaiming kindness as our default way of interacting, especially with the other people who are providing a service for us.  Smile to people, be gracious and understanding, complain less, decrease the anxiety, tip more- Jesus said they would know us by our love. Let’s show some.  

Blessings, 
Jesse+