Rev. Cara Scriven, Lead Pastor
This week I read a blog by Amory Peck, the former lay leader for the Pacific Northwest Conference of the United Methodist Church. Peck describes some of the lessons we learn from reading fiction. She says “often the author, through her characters, says just what I need to read, or gives me just the words I want to say.” I find this to be true as well, although this week, it didn’t come from a book of fiction, but rather another blog post.
Jim Harnish is a retired United Methodist pastor from the Florida Annual Conference. This week on this blog, Faith Matters: Reflections on Life and Faith, Harnish argued that it is a sin to not wear a mask. He writes “The deepest truth about sin is that it is always selfish…It is the radical egotism that leads me to act as if I have no responsibility beyond my own self-absorption.” He then quotes Galatians 5:13-15, where Paul writes
“You were called to freedom, brothers and sisters, only don’t let this freedom be an opportunity to indulge your selfish impulses but serve each other through love. All the Law has been fulfilled in a single statement: Love your neighbor as yourself. But if you bite and devour each other, be careful that you don’t get eaten up by each other!”
The Christian faith often talks about freedom. Jesus said, “The truth will set you free.” (John 8:32) and Paul often writes about our liberty in Christ. Yet, this freedom isn’t to do anything we want whenever we want it. Paul is very clear in Galatians that we are not to indulge our own selfish desires, but rather find freedom in serving others in love. Putting the needs of our neighbors ahead of our own desires is our obligation according to Paul.
Though we might wonder if Paul ever lived through a pandemic. Trauma fatigue is real, and we are all feeling it right now. Over a year into this crisis, the case numbers are once again at a dangerous level in Pierce County. I am so exhausted. I’m weary of all the anxiety. I am tired of checking the latest case numbers. I am worn-out about having to wear masks, social distance, sign into places, and my temperature being taken. I desire, more than anything, for things to go back to “normal” so I can feel normal again.
Yesterday, I was listening to a podcast from This American Life. The podcast title was “Essentials” and they were talking with employees whose jobs were deemed essential early in the pandemic. According to this podcast, subway station workers brought bottles of Joy Dish Soap into their booths so they would have something good to look at during their long quiet shifts and a carpenter for the New York City Department of Education joined other employees building coffins in a local high school gymnasium.
The story that shook me was about a waitress, Shelly Ortiz, who was working for a fine dining restaurant. When Ortiz had to go back to work, she double masked and suffered under her own anxiety about getting sick. She wondered how fine dining was considered essential, but she needed the money, so she went to work. One day a customer left a comment card on her table that said, “Thank you for making it feel normal.” Ortiz became upset. She was risking her life so that other people could feel normal.
We all want things to be better—normal even. Our faith though requires us, to put aside our desire for normalcy for the sake of our neighbors. Seventeen months into this pandemic and it is getting harder to put aside our own wants especially when others are not doing the same for us. Yet, Jesus didn’t say love your neighbors only when they love you. And Paul didn’t say, let go of your selfish desires only when your neighbor does the same for you. No, instead, they told us the truth. It is hard to put away our own egos (Matthew 19: 21-24), but if we do, we will find life and wholeness (Romans 8:5-13).
May you have the courage to let go of your own selfish desires this week and by doing so, may you find wholeness.