I have come to realize that one of the most dangerous places a human being could ever set foot inside of is, believe it or not, the grocery store! In grocery stores, many people who probably arrived to their shopping place via some kind of motor vehicle, forget all about the rules of driving that keep them safe on the road.
Amazingly, in the grocery store, vast numbers of shoppers take their carts, often full of food and other mer- chandise, and push them in whatever direction they wish, cutting through aisles and darting through inter- sections without ever yielding, stopping or checking to see if anyone is in front of them or just around the corner. Some of the nicest folks you will ever meet on the streets will make you wish to wear a helmet and body armor when you encounter them in the grocery store, for if they are not careful, they will run right over your feet, crash into your legs, or even knock you down. Surely, grocery stores need traffic signals!
These shopping scenarios describe the hurried pace in which we humans often travel. Sometimes the pressure of completing our “to do” lists can create within us high levels of anxiety and intensity that can cause us to overlook the presence and realities of those around us, people who have just as much of a right to exist and function as we do. Sometimes, we unintentionally crash into other people.
As we Christians consider our Lenten journey and its call for us to remember Jesus’ love-driven path to his ultimate sacrifice, the Cross, let us chart the course of our lives in similar fashion. Let us sacrifice the urgency of our personal to do lists in order to adopt a love-driven to do list that focuses on recognizing the humanity of those around us, and doing whatever it takes to live in loving, just relationships with them, even if they are different that us. Slow down enough to acknowledge God’s image and like- ness in all of the people we see. Look out for their safety, invest in their achievement, and let no one trivialize them. These are the kinds of Lenten practices that have the power to draw people to Christ and forge the creation of the beloved community in his name. Amen
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