Giving it 10%

            For a society that enjoys a perception of control and ultimate awareness, our current reality of unprecedented collective anxiety is not comfortable.

            We also recognise that COVID-19 is unlike other enemies we have faced: it is not a partisan issue (though many are making it political); it does not have a face (aside form the dog-toy-esque graphic); it seemingly attacks indiscriminately across our distinctions of socio-economic status, gender, religion, ethnicity, etc.

            The storm is the same - and while our boats are all different, we are all in the same storm.    At the end of this 'war', there will be no memorial day at new monuments, no statues raised, no iconic photos to be shared for a hundred years.

            People deal with this type of uneasy situation in many different ways; some are giving it 100% - writing novels, creating art, drafting governance models - producing a lot. And some folks are able to give it 10%. And you know what? That's great. Because 10% is a lot. And it's cumulative. 10% of a puzzle could be the first 10% or the last 10% - it all contributes to the big picture. 

  

          There may be times when we all feel like we could take on the world, and some days where we barely get off the couch. And that's okay, because we're all in the same storm. Admittedly, we're all in different boats in the same storm - with different capacities, resources, and responsibilities.  Yet the good news is that Jesus calms storms - but not without joining us in our boats to still our hearts.

            So as you journey this storm today, I invite you to be aware of what you have to give - and give what you've got - 10%, 100%, or anywhere in between. And be okay with that. And respect that everyone else is giving it all they have as well (remembering we're not called to be competitors, but are given the chance to be community).  For when we are gentle with ourselves, and with each other, we will weather this storm together.

            And maybe we can finish a puzzle along the way.