When I was a kid there was a popular tv show called The Six-million Dollar Man. The storyline was that a gifted military man had been badly injured, and scientists and doctors used the latest technology to rebuild him with bionic eyes, arms and legs. He could hear and see things further away than humanly possible. His reflexes and physical abilities were heightened, he could do things faster and better.
I still remember the opening trailer lines, “We can rebuild him, we have the technology! He will be faster and better than humanly possible”
And people were so excited about all those possibilities! What if we could really see further away than anyone else? So cool!
I keep thinking about that as we drag ourselves through this pandemic and subsequent world and life commotion.
We are discovering we cannot do things like we’ve always done them:
Serving others? Wear a mask.
Attending Church? Wear a mask.
Dining out? Drive through instead (at least you still won’t have to wash the dishes after).
Visiting the sick? Use Zoom. Or, more accurately for some, learn to use Zoom
But the effect of all this learning new ways of doing things is also a mental drain. I don’t know about you, but I am a creature of habit. My routines in the morning are fairly set, and having to change them, by say, remembering to bring a mask, or any other routine for that matter, taxes my brain. It would be so easy to say, “I don’t like this, It’s too different, I’m not going to do it until I can do it the way I’m used to.”
What happened to the excitement over bionic anything?
And what is that complaining really saying? Imma be blunt: I think it's like saying, “this is about me, I’m not going to learn new ways to serve and help others, I’m just not going to love and serve others until I can do it my way.”
Here’s the thing; we can rebuild our lives. We have the technology. We can lift the limits of communication by learning new ways to reach out. (Bionic eyes, anyone?) We can expand our ability to love others by being willing to gather with masks on and learning to communicate with our words, not just our smiles. It’s a test! If our love for our fellow man is deep enough, nothing should stand in our way.
I’ve discovered as I’ve worked to embrace all of these new things needed (cough, masks, cough) to continue in new paths, those paths have become easier to travel. Virtual meetings feel more normal, we can still laugh and find joy in the connection. For in person gatherings, the smiling eyes peering over masks are sweet to my soul. Friends, we NEED connection!
Yes, it takes effort. Yes, it involves surrendering some of our agency by doing what we’re asked or told. Here’s my thinking on that: the Law of Sacrifice says that we receive no blessings for giving or sacrificing unless the sacrifice is given willingly. I NEED those blessings! I need to be able to see friends, see family, attend church and many other things, so I am going to adjust my thinking to give a willing sacrifice of wearing a mask so I can do that. It’s the willingness to do that that brings the joy.
I’m reminded of the words of this hymn,
“In word and deed he doth require
My will to his, like son to sire,
Be made to bend, and I, as son,
Learn conduct from the Holy One.”
Maybe these words are better,
“Ain’t no mountain high enough to keep me from you, [friend]!”
I’ll wear a mask, too!
