The Most Precious Thing Is What You Give Away

Yesterday I sat editing a video for an hour, intensely focused. When I stood to go outside and tend to my chickens and looked out the back porch window at the sunset, I was shockingly returned to the sad truth that the world outside -- all those other humans -- were cut off from me. I couldn't venture out. Our world has, for a while, become an alien world. I battle a sense of inner alarm and sadness.

Some truly believe this virus is being used by the world's governments (particularly our own) to strip us of our freedoms, to curtail our movement and rob us of rights and make us dependent on the government -- in other words, to lure us, using our fears, into deeper socialism. A conspiracy. I sigh when I read those posts and articles. Freedom is indeed a precious thing, a gift hard-earned. We take it for granted. But isn't the most precious thing the one that you willingly give up, for the good of everyone? It's one thing for the government to strip my freedom away against my will. It's quite another for me to voluntarily give it up, to save lives. I have the right to demand my liberty. I also have the right to give it up. 

We take this from Jesus Himself. "No one takes [my life] away from me, but I lay it down of my own initiative. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again." (John 10:18) That's true freedom, yes?

Christians follow Jesus in being impervious to loss of liberty. There is an inner world of the spirit where liberty is absolute and constraints of this world fall away. The greatest constraint is death, but we slip out of those shackles also, and enter the freedom of heaven. I refuse to be alarmed about the political vicissitudes of this world.

This struck home this morning as I watched this video from Chicago doctor Emily Rendon.

She comes across as an eminent professional and as the nation's mother, admonishing us all to care for each other. Be your brother's keeper! "We've made a lot of sacrifices," she says of her family. "Why ask so much of people?" "Now it's your turn to do your part." "The virus is taking what's left of our precious liberty." She said that. The government isn't taking our freedom away; the virus is, and rightly so.

I'm amazed at humans. We can be selfish, stupid, and cruel in crisis. But we can also be brilliant, loving, giving. Just this morning I discovered Patrick Stewart's facebook page! Guess what? Each morning he is reading aloud a Shakespeare sonnet, sitting at home in his t-shirt with his old-guy glasses on.

He was astonished at the response to his first reading, so he decided to do it everyday ... since he's at home anyway. Why not? Why not give?

Yesterday I had the pleasure of watching Andrew Lloyd Webber in his home, at his piano, playing a tune on Twitter for his fans.

His dog interrupted him half-way through. It was delightful to watch his hands find those familiar, luscious chords of the beautiful music he's written for us all. And he's giving it away, and inviting us into his home. No rehearsal, no make-up, no director. Just us and him. 

Look for opportunities to give of yourself. Social media can be a pain-in-the-neck, but during this time its value is shining forth! Aren't we thankful we can stay connected? See each other? Watch each other? Share each other's gifts and loves and Netflix recommendations?

Why did we think an event like this wouldn't happen in our lives, in our world? Certainly it will be a "reset" for all of us on how we live, what we do with our time, how we view home, how we view human contact, how we think of the simple gift of breathing. 

May we stay well and stay at home. May God give comfort and peace to those who are ill. May wisdom and not foolishness prevail. And if you need a little distraction, at last I made a decent video (with Adam's superb assistance) of myself painting something. I tried once before, but it's hard to paint while balancing a camera on the table. His equipment and expertise were a huge help. 

Much love to all ~