Earlier this year, we found ourselves in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.
We were all in this tragedy together. What should we do? How should we
react? Should we follow the advice of governments to stay home, even though
we knew we weren't carriers? Should we insist on getting the last 10
packages of toilet paper? Should we hurry to the story just as it opened to
take any hand sanitizer that might have been put on the shelves overnight?
We all experienced the results of people caught up in the panic buying of
the moment. As my wife stood in the isle trying to decide what box of
instant rice to purchase, someone came up behind her, excused himself, and
then put all of the boxes in his cart...
What should we do? How should we react? In such situations, should we be
nice to people? Or should we follow the examples of most of the rest of the
world and be nasty?
In Sherbrooke, Quebec, a security guard in a local Walmart stood at the
door. It was his job to enforce social distancing, as well as to ensure that
there weren't too many customers at one time in the story. And he did his
job well. I supposed it can even be said he did his job too well, for he was
not popular among certain Walmart patrons who didn't want to be told how to
shop.
One such patron took matters into his own hands. He got into his car and
rammed into that security guard outside that Walmart. The guard flew up onto
the hood of the car, but eventually fell onto the pavement below. He was
sent to hospital where he was placed on life support due to multiple
fractures and head injury. He was eventually placed in a medically-induced
coma.
If he had been conscience, I'm sure the security guard might have asked
himself why he even went to work that day. The job itself put him at risk of
contracting the deadly virus. And now, thanks to someone who cared more
about his own "rights" than about the well-being of other people, he was in
a fight for his life.
At the time this was written, we do not know if this security guard
survived. We can only pray he does. Wouldn't it be better if we all loved
the way Jesus does? "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have
loved you, so you must love one another." (John 13:34 NIV).
It doesn't matter what bad circumstances we are facing. Let's forgive and
show love to one another. Remember, when we give a flower to someone, it can
go a long way towards changing that person's life; and it is so much better
than hurting them. If your motivation is pure love, you can be assured that
you will never make a mistake.
Oh, and just to show that the whole world didn't succumb to the selfishness
seen in so many through COVID-19, local residents of Sherbrooke, Quebec
donated over $100,000 to the security guard's family.
No matter what the stresses and pressures of life facing you right now,
resist the urge to only think of your own wellbeing. Instead, show love!
Rob Chaffart