I want to share this facebook post from a friend of mine that comes at a time when many need to see love and kindness in what they believe to be a world of uncertainty. No one should ever nit see this in anyone who labels themselves as a "Christian".
From my friend Heidi:
Friends, I’m sharing this story because I want love to win. Today I experienced the very immediate, tangible realization of what happens when we obey Christ in loving one another as He commanded. Sometimes this is difficult, because of presuppositions, assumptions, divisions, or misunderstandings. Sometimes we are selfish or withdrawn when we should be selfless and accessible – and I am guilty of sometimes being at the front of this line.
In reading today’s news stories, it hurt my heart to read about how deeply anxious and concerned many people are regarding outcomes of the election. Of special significance is the storyline that Muslims in America report feeling threatened and on alert. I understand this feeling, of being singled out and treated badly based on my spiritual beliefs, from events both here in America and in my travels abroad. I’ve been praying and pondering throughout the day what could be done to bring people together to rebuild trust and relationships where political and religious faultlines – which in some cases have run silent and dormant for decades – suddenly shook and exposed the true core of our nation just 24 hours ago.
The Lord reminded me of Pastor J Mark Johns’ leading of the “Plant a Seed” effort we as a church undertook a couple of years ago. The idea was to do something kind, on purpose and without an agenda, for someone who could use a little help or encouragement. It was described as a conspiracy of kindness, to purposely send out signals of love everywhere that we went, without expecting anything in return. It was done just to live out the true love of Jesus that we talk about every week, with the message that the real proof of our faith comes not in our attendance on Sundays but in what we do on Monday in the office, Tuesday in traffic, and Wednesday on the way home. In response to his prompting, some of my friends from church mowed lawns for their neighbors; others bought movie tickets and provided free babysitting for overwhelmed parents who needed a night out; still others paid for lunch or dinner of the person behind them in line at Panera.
Today, I went to Starbucks over my lunch hour and took my time browsing before getting in line. I’d picked up a Christmas Blend pack of K-cups and found myself behind two young women who I thought may have been Arabic or Egyptian. They spoke in a language I did not recognize, and one was wearing a Muslim hijab, along with long, flowing clothing. As we drew closer to the front I felt moved to pick up their tab for coffee, and when the time was right I asked if I could do so. The woman closest to me, who spoke English, looked at me quizzically and said, “No, you don’t have to do that…” I said I would like to, if it was okay. She half-smiled and stepped back and said, “But WHY?” I said, “I just really want to do this for you, my treat.” Then she was smiling full-out, and said that was sweet, I didn’t have to, but okay. Then before agreeing she again asked, “But WHY?”
Before speaking to them, I thought about what I would say if asked this question. I didn’t want it to be about the election, either of our religions, or anything other than courtesy and friendliness. I wasn’t looking to make a statement, but to metaphorically wrap my arms around them and tell them everything would be okay. I wanted both women to feel surrounded by support just as I did in Cairo when a group of Muslim women befriended me and assured me they would watch out for me, as I felt and must have looked terrified after a series of stories best saved for another essay.
To the woman in Starbucks who could not understand why I was reaching out to her and her friend, I simply responded, “I want to plant seeds of kindness and love.”
Her face was visibly overwhelmed with surprise and wonder and happiness, and she said, “Okay, then….uh…that’s so nice of you. Thank you, thank you very much. Oh, that’s so nice of you. Thank you.” The other woman, who I don’t think spoke English, was watching all this go down with the same wondrous look, looking as though she wasn't sure what was going on.
After I inserted my card and finished paying, the first woman thanked me again and let out a relaxed laugh and said, “You know, I think we should just move on from what happened yesterday and go forward." I nodded, and before I could respond, she said, "I think we should just hug it out!” I beamed, gave her a hug, and as we embraced, I whispered in her ear, “Bless you.” By this time my eyes were watering and I couldn’t look at her anymore for fear I would lose it right there in Starbucks. My heart was bursting with love and astonishment. She thanked me again, extended her hand to mine, and said, “I hope you have a happy Christmas.” I thanked her very much, and they moved on to the end of the counter to wait for their drinks and marble loaf. As I placed my order and paid, I could hear the two talking and I think the one woman was telling the other woman what had just happened. You could see the other woman – the one in the burka – slowly begin to smile, then full-out beam, until she looked at me and nodded with her hands clasped in front of her and we too spontaneously embraced in a hug. Just as they were about to leave, the woman in the burka came over to me, and in the most joyous, genuine smile I have seen in a number of weeks, using her best English she said, “I thank you so much and wish you a happy Christmas.”
Two Muslim women, wishing me happy Christmas, and all of us embracing, because of two cups of coffee and one marble loaf. I share this as commentary on the power and importance of bold, courageous acts of love during difficult times among people. Here we three were, in the middle of Starbucks in Gainesville, Florida, never having met before in our lives and on the surface, seemingly worlds apart in terms of religion; potentially distant in terms of politics; but sharing the unifying love of comforting, warm coffee. Never in my life would I have imagined that a Muslim, yet alone two Muslims, would wish me a happy Christmas. Perhaps it is because never in their lives would either of them have imagined that a random stranger would pay for their coffee, simply out of the desire to plant seeds of kindness and love. No agenda, no motivation, no craftily-worded propaganda or political positioning, just love and kindness as a singular platform. All of this went down in less than three minutes, which leads me to believe that if others engage in similar acts, we as a people can come back to the enjoyment of human decency and respect for each other. And we can do it far more quickly than the time during which we became so divided.
Please join with me in this conspiracy – to love one another, without stopping to determine what you can get out of it or whether you think the other person is worthy. Join with me in this quest to overcome our own fears, our own faultlines, and our own failings. Each of us is responsible for the energy and messages we send out into the world, for better or for worse. What happens to one, happens to all, and unless all of us are free, none of us is. Live and let live. Let’s make sure that love wins.
