Remaining Influential

Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone.

“Performing the wave is your favorite part of this baseball game, isn’t it?”

My seat neighbor’s question was in response to my giggle as everyone in our stadium section threw their hands in the air with an audible “wooooooo,” while the swell passed and proceeded in its third slow circle.

Ignoring the batter swinging at pitches, I tracked the fun tradition as it moved through the crowd. Somewhere north of ten thousand people, mostly strangers, participated, working together to keep the wave circulating for several minutes.

Lord, thank you for fun moments reminding us of one another’s humanity as we sit together, eat together, and cheer wildly at the swings and misses of the visiting team. Help me remember this moment as we move into election season. May I always see—first and foremost—the humanity of others, no matter what.

My silent prayer as I watched the opposing batter strike out against my Twinkies had me pondering other ways I might capture and share the simple joy and togetherness of such a tradition, looking for ways to build community and live in peace despite national schisms along any number of fault lines.

While I’m sure my work colleagues have no interest in performing the wave as an official way to end our meetings, bringing in an occasional treat to share is an easy way to stay in relationship despite differences. And inviting the neighborhood to a Sunday night bonfire with s’mores and hot cider is a simple option for building or maintaining community without worrying about whether your house is tidy.

Sometimes, being in proximity to us is the closest a person has ever been to meeting Jesus. We might be the first version of him a neighbor, colleague, or shopper standing behind us at the checkout counter has known. Striving to see the humanity in everyone and live in peace whenever possible helps keep us in relationship instead of falling into the divisive trap of “them versus us.” And relational proximity allows us to remain influential rather than be immediately dismissed based on assumptions or stereotypes.

Julie

Today’s Act of Gratitude

What’s your version of the wave, helping you maintain proximity of relationship and community when it’s tempting to disengage along divisive fault lines?