Choose This Day

People are crazy. Yesterday I read about a pair of murder/homicides in the news. The horror of multiple generations perishing together is not something I can stand to focus on, but I see the same sort of craziness that, taken to its worst extreme, could lead to such a tragedy on too many faces. I'm a people watcher--- not as in "voyeur", but simply an observer of human expression, behavior, and emotion.
Drivers are becoming more aggressive and reckless. (I wonder if traffic accident and violation citation data would back up my personal observations?) People in their cars a year ago were singing to the radio, laughing and chatting with passengers or the phantoms of Blue Tooth, and willing to let one in when a lane disappeared suddenly due to construction. Not so these days. The single finger salute seems to be growing more common, attaching one's front bumper to the car ahead's rear bumper appears to be at least a valid choice (if not a goal), and the expressions glimpsed on faces would be reasonable on a soldier locked in losing hand-to-hand combat.
Walking the aisles of the grocery store or megamart, the common expression of aggression is exchanged for one of fear, despair, or worry. The carts that were filled with organic, gluten-free, sugar-free, antibiotic-free, hormone-free, etc. foods eighteen months ago are now more likely to carry store-brand macaroni and cheese, whichever milk is cheapest, applesauce, cereal, pre-packaged lunch meat, peanut butter, and a loaf of bread. Our local stores reflect in their displays a progressive slowing of impulse purchases as the "extra" (not food) items offered for sale seem to be selling more slowly or not at all until the beach-themed melamine dishes, suntan lotion, and school supplies end up in a cart labeled with a hand-lettered magic marker sign proclaiming "extra 25% off lowest price marked!!!"
Last weekend I saw something different. We attended a big party thrown to celebrate a 65th birthday. This was a full-blown celebration complete with barbecue dinner, giant birthday cake, hay rides, dee-jay, and the ubiquitous Chicken Dance. (Yay!) No expense was spared in celebrating the day when Ralph reached 65 years of life. Because his funeral was expected at 64.5. Ralph contracted a nasty infection and was in a coma last Spring while his family, friends, and a host of Believers in Christ prayed for him to live. So he is living life to the fullest and celebrating every day whether there is a big party or not. I sat in Ralph's home days before the party and he was smiling and laughing with his wife, daughters, and one of the grandchildren in the very same way he was smiling and laughing with a hundred plus of his nearest and dearest days later.
I figure Ralph knows what's up. So, I will smile at the frowning masses. I will greet total strangers. I will hug my middle school kids who squirm away saying "Mooooom!" and attempt to flee--- only to dance closer if I do not chase after because they really need that affection. I will pour my heart and love into other people every chance that I see. When I fail to share joy, I will know there is grace for me, too. I will smile, laugh, and dance because the troubles of this world are not going to go anywhere, but I do not have to add to them. I will also cry with those who mourn because sometimes laughter is not the best medicine. Sometimes I will likely rant a bit because I get angry, hurt, frustrated, or defensive. Through it all, I will pray and I will hope.