I drove home to Pennsylvania last week to visit my mom and sister, who I hadn’t seen since November 2019. It was Mother’s Day and my sister’s birthday. The weather was cold and rainy but we had a wonderful visit including my favorite-rhubarb pie, my mom’s favorite-crab cakes and my sister’s favorite-chocolate. Besides the food, we shared laughs, played games and enjoyed our time together. On Monday, I had a pretty uneventful return trip back to Wilmington, NC. I did encounter traffic backed up at the NC state line that added almost an hour to my trip…but I arrived home safely on Monday. Whew!
I stopped for gas several times on this trip and did not encounter a single line or closed pump. Suddenly on Tuesday there appears to be a gas shortage, bolstered by panic to fill car tanks to the tippy-top. Less than 12 hours after I arrived back home…panic! What happened? What changed so suddenly? State of emergency declared. Stations out of fuel. Long lines at the pumps. It reminded me of the toilet paper shortage not so long ago at the beginning of the pandemic.
What does this kind of reaction say about us…about me and you and our neighbors and friends? Are we so self-centered and selfish? Is our only concern that OUR tank is full…whether we need it to be or not? Are we so afraid of a bit of inconvenience?
This kind of manufactured panic is a response that comes from fear of not enough. Afraid there won’t be enough for me. It’s all about me and my needs, my insecurities, my ‘lack’ consciousness…the need to have more than enough, just in case, because. It is this mental, emotional and spiritual outlook that is in direct contrast to the most basic Christian teaching.
Love one another.
So, did your own response to the sudden ‘gas shortage’ come from love or from fear? Did it come from consideration of the whole or from fear of not enough for me?
It’s pretty simple…love one another. You just can’t go wrong when you come from love.
Humbly
Paula
One Response
People were not only topping their tanks, they were filling gas cans. My reaction to this was the same as yours. I wonder what would happen in a real crisis? This country is long overdue for learning how to pull together in times of need. If everyone who needed gas took just what they needed, this wouldn’t be an issue. Excess and selfishness are on full display. What’s it gonna take for people to wake up and see this issue?