What does it mean to Love when the world is collapsing?

Many of us are leaving our previous churches. Yet also, a lot of people are still hungry for that which is Good. I am hungry for community, and I do know I am not fully alone. 

You don’t have to be Christian to be holy. Not all Christians are holy, and not all non Christians are not. As many leave church, what does it mean to be holy (or simply loving, for those wary of the word)?

However, standing up for what is Good can also come at a high personal cost. Many of us have lost, estranged, or strained relationships with our family and friends after we spoke up for what we believe in the name of Love, and they just… did not share it with us. Worse, people like Renee Good and Alex Pretti have died, and journalists like Don Lemon are being prosecuted for sharing the truth and trying to protect their neighbors. The first Christians suffered and died for their beliefs. May we walk in their footsteps as we march forward in the 21st century.

We need to build love and care with each other. There are day to day kindnesses we hopefully see every day. There are ways the world runs smoothly in a kind and generous way without people even noticing, oftentimes due to people’s labor. 

When we celebrate and give them our attention instead of letting them pass unnoticed, we create mutuality and exchange for everyday Love. If you cannot discover your own way of caring for the world around you, maybe there are a few ideas here?

There are numerous people like farmers who ensure all humans are fed. There are also kind people who specialize in helping the poor keep their bellies full. Kind and compassionate people care for the sick as doctors, nurses, chaplains, and caregivers, while others quietly tend to ill loved ones without recognition.

There are people who ensure that those who are not housed, or who are alienated from their home in some way, are receiving shelter and a sense of belonging in the world. 

Saying nonbelievers cannot be ethical is disingenuous, especially when Christians fail to take responsibility for their own harms. That is not to say atheists are perfect; none of us are. But they can be good. 

As our society continues to decline, more and more people are in need. Government funding cuts mean that people who previously relied on the ACA, SNAP, Medicare/Medicaid, etc. are in need.

Trans people and families with trans children and teenagers also need help relocating to other places.

We can help sick, chronically ill and/or in pain, and disabled people out with whatever they need. 

Rapid response teams across the country can usually use help protecting the rights of those who are immigrants in America right now.

We can fundraise to support people struggling with rent, feeding children, or caring for disabled loved ones. Believing in human dignity means we cannot force people to bear the financial weight of care alone. We are all created to be interdependent.

Truth be told, if all you can do is parent your children, take care of your immediate family, go to work, and make dinner or help your spouse with dinner, that is enough.

What does it look like to love, during a time that is so severely lacking in Love? How does one love in the face of so much hatred? I suppose we begin building a better world with one tiny act of ordinary care for each other.