A Great Gift

On this Easter Sunday 2020, it seems appropriate to consider what a great gift we have been given. In particular the young people of our world have received a message, and Easter present, from God that should be cherished, seriously contemplated, and deeply appreciated.

The angel Clarence, in his dialogue with George Bailey in It's a Wonderful Life, said..."You've been given a great gift George, the chance to see what the world would be like without you." In that vein, our young people have been given the chance to see what planet Earth was like without them...and many other of the essentials of the modern world we all now consider indispensable.. and take for granted.

The world is on pause and many have paid a brutal price for this gift of which I write. But, in many ways, if we choose to look at COVID-19 in a positive light, we can see that there is life, and a very good one, without the usual clutter, confusion and sensory overload of the twenty-first century.

When one is forced to be at home for long stretches of time, can we find joy in simple interaction with our family? Could it be that our family members are people to enjoy being around...and not ignore in favor of someone on social media? Could a simple puzzle, card or board game, provide endless hours of enjoyment because of the stories told and family memories shared over them? Could an old movie, or TV show, without benefit of tons of computer-generated images, actually tell a timeless and meaningful story? Amazingly, it seems so.

Could a favorite song on the radio take you back to a certain time and place spent with someone very dear and bring you to tears? Certainly not. But, in fact, it seems to happen...and more often when one has time away from everyday matters to fully appreciate that song. That moment in time...and experiences shared...aren't they more important now? And so it seemed when many of us were young. We didn't know how lucky we were. Perhaps now we do.

Could medical professionals, first-responders, grocery store workers, truck drivers, food-service personnel and other every-day professionals actually be our heroes instead of athletes, movie stars and other celebrities of fleeting significance? Of course they always have been, but it took this stoppage of the world to bring it to light.

Isn't it possible that many who have never thought about giving of themselves to others are now doing so and understanding how important it is...and they are...to this world? It couldn't be more true now... "you don't know what you have, until it's gone". But now we realize what we had, and will someday have again, with a simple handshake, hug, or a kiss on the cheek from someone outside our immediate family.

Also gone are the crowd experiences of sports, concerts, plays and large gatherings of all kinds. Oh, the joy they bring. Oh, the amazing experience they will be when they return again. This time without them will certainly provide new appreciation for their impact on how we live.

When we see the death toll of this pandemic, I will grant that it is difficult for some to see it as a gift from God. But for those of us who remain...and particularly the young people who will lead the world deep into the current century...the experience will hopefully be viewed as a giant re-set button...a time to consider what is really important...and what is not.

We've been given a wonderful gift. Now the trick will be to live our lives like a re-born George Bailey.