All you’ve got

I hesitate to write about the devastation of the fires that currently rage in Southern California. Lives have been lost and dreams have literally gone up in smoke, but it’s not my story to tell. I haven’t been personally touched by the flames that have destroyed so much and yet, here I am, heartbroken and at a loss for words as I grieve with those who grieve. When we talk about loving our neighbors, it’s not a matter of geography. Our call isn’t just to love the ones who live in our neighborhood, who look like us or believe all the same things we believe. Love your neighbor in a concept that goes deeper than proximity. It is a mandate for us love one another without any fine print.

I have to confess, as I was reading news about the fires on BBC, for a split second I was offended to see articles of people celebrating a sports victory or a multi-million dollar business deal. I briefly thought to myself, “how can they be going on with life while thousands of people are suffering in the trauma of wildfires?” Quickly I realized….I am doing that all the time. Wars rage throughout the world. Famine and genocide and disease plague humanity. Fires, floods, death, and divorce are happening daily and yet all-to-often I go about my day without a thought for the neighbors I can’t see, let alone the ones right in front of me.

Again, this particular tragedy is not my story to tell. The stories of people losing lives, homes, treasures, and dreams are unique and sacred. My story, and probably yours as well is, how are we loving our neighbor? None of us can love perfectly, but we can choose to love; to show compassion. To weep with those who weep and rejoice with those who rejoice. We can be generous to those in need, comfort the brokenhearted, and give kindness to the weary. I don’t really know how that looks practically for you, or myself for that matter. That’s the great thing about humanity is that we’re all different, with various gifts and resources. I would simply encourage you (as I’m encouraging and challenging myself): Love with all you’ve got. Whatever talents you have, use them to bless others. With your resources, be generous to those in need. Be gentle and compassionate with your words to people and believe the best about them. Most people are just doing the best they can with the knowledge, abilities, and resources available to them. And if they’re not, what is that to me? The moment I judge someone else is the very moment I condemn myself as well. So, give grace and kindness and mercy. Whether I’m experiencing tragedy or riding on the wings of prosperity, let’s be people who are actively loving our neighbor with all we’ve got. I believe that’s the way we’ll all experience a more beautiful world.