Love is kind

The train was late.  The crowd was already getting uncomfortably close.  Inconvenience began to boil up inside her.  Next to her, the man was mumbling.  Talking to himself or trying to communicate with her, she couldn't be certain.  Train, please come quickly.  She took the steps onto the train directly behind his tall, malnourished frame, one slow step at a time.  Her heart softened.  As they entered the crowded aisle together, strangers began offering this elderly gentleman their seats.  He preferred to stand.  Their kindness settled inside her and brought a smile to her face.  At the next stop, seats opened up and she found herself next to him, sharing a seat with his bag of books from the library.  She smelled that sweet alcohol smell as he apologized in his soft mumbled words for taking up so much room and told her about how his mother always made him give up his seat for ladies.  He made her uncomfortable.  She had to get close to understand his speech and the sun was in her eyes as she looked his way.  Not wanting to be rude, she smiled and nodded.  The plastic bag on his lap was giving him trouble; his swollen fingers couldn't wrestle the knot open.  Minutes passed as the verse played in her mind "Love is patient, love is kind..."  "Sir, can I help you with that?," she finally asked.  "Oh no, I can get it, but thank you so much.  You are so nice."  The struggle continues as soda cans drop from the bag and roll to the seat behind them.  She turns around and the ladies behind them return her smile as they load up her arms with the goodies that reached their feet.  One can springs a leak as it hits the ground.  He holds it still with his bright white tennis shoes until he can manage to open the bag.  This time, he lets her give the knot a try.  He notices the ease in which she works out the knot, and showers her with thank you's and blessings as she fills the bag back up with the sodas, cigarettes and candies that had escaped.  She shows him the hole in the bottom of the bag and they work together to rearrange his books (his most prized possession, he tells her) to secure his bag of snacks.  It's still hard to understand him, but he's expressing his surprise that someone would actually help him; his gratitude - that he'd still be working on the knot if not for a friend to lend a hand.  "I hope your husband knows he's got a good woman!  And I'm not trying to be fresh.  This is the nicest train ride I've ever had."  As the train slowly pulls into the station, she wishes him well and tries to steer clear of the Pepsi puddle near her feet.  The train starts moving and she feels a tap on her shoulder from behind.  "That was really nice of you.  Most people wouldn't do that.  Thank you."  Embarrassed, she responds "No need to thank me.  Just been wondering if it would actually make a difference if we all tried to love each other a little better.  Thought I would give it a try."  She feels awkward, but maybe, hopefully, it will remind people of good and love and beauty.  And that it's not that hard.  They share a certain bond as the soles of their shoes, sticky from the man's soda, noisily exit the train at their stop.  And they go home changed by a simple interaction with a man, his books and his plastic bag.

...yet beauty remains

I haven't felt too inspired to blog lately, but today, as I was letting the darkness of my city's situation and all of the media hype overwhelm me, God gave me a little tap on the shoulder.  I thought I would share...

I've been glued to the news coverage of the riots in Baltimore - frustration, sadness, anger, annoyance, disbelief - all emotions running through me.  Lately, I've been catching myself saying "This world is becoming an ugly place.  What's going to happen next?"  Today I felt that gentle nudge that God gives you when He wakes you up from your self involvement.  As clear as day, I felt that still small voice tell me, "What's going to happen next?  Valerie, you already know how this ends.  Just a few weeks ago you celebrated it.  When Jesus overcame death, He overcame the world and the powers of darkness.  He proved that He is the only One with power in this world.  Don't forget this, He has already defeated the powers of Hell - now live like it!"

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”  John 16:33

It's so easy to let the darkness overwhelm us, but we know that where there's light, darkness has to flee.  Light has power over darkness.  We see it in science; if you light a candle in a dark room, the light always overcomes the darkness.

"The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it" John 1:5

The images that we see on Facebook and TV are ugly.  But there is still so much beauty.  I've seen people posting beautiful prayers.  I've heard strangers on the light rail promote peace among one another.  I've seen true reconciliation.  Yet it's still much easier to focus on the ugly.  As someone who struggles with anxiety and depression,  I know this all too well.  When we focus on the good, though, the bad gets so much smaller.

"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

So, how do we do this?  To me, the answer is clear - Love.  I won't quote Rob Bell and say "Love Wins" (because truthfully, I haven't read the book and don't want to get into a debate), but I do know that the Bible tells us this: Love never fails! (1 Corinthians 13:8)  The Light of the World lives in those who believe.  He certainly doesn't need us to be light, but He allows us that privilege.  Let's be light and show love together.

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres." 1 Corinthians 13:4-7

How would things be different if I was more patient and kind; if I stopped envying others and put an end to my boastfulness and pride?  What if I honored others above myself and didn't get angry, but let things go?  Whould it promote change if I didn't buy into the media hype that "delights in evil" but remained constant in speaking truth?  Can I be more protecting of those more vulnerable, trusting, hopeful and persevering?  Want to try it with me?