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A few weeks ago or maybe a month, I like many others
tuned in to watch April, the giraffe, have her baby. I watched steadily throughout a couple of
days as if she were going to give birth any moment. Well, just in case you are not one of the
many keeping tabs on April—she has NOT had her baby yet.
Now
the truth is that I stopped watching with such devotion, much like The Voice,
the idea is good but I can’t commit to that much time. But I did check in every once in a while,
there was something soothing about watching this giraffe in the midst chaotic
times. I paid little attention to the
conversations, rather I simply breathed and watched April’s stomach—silly I
know…but if I am silly so are hundreds of others.
The
conversations of the “others” would float by the bottom of my screen and
honestly, amidst the hellos and goodbyes, what all I really noticed were the
arguments of whether giraffes laid eggs.
Yes this was the reason I avoided the comments—that was until March 22nd,
the day of the attacks in Westminster, London.
On that
day, as I stopped on April’s video, I saw all the comments were from people
praying for London. Not only were they
praying for a country but I could see that there were words of comfort to people
they had come to know who were living in London. Suddenly I saw the conversations were not
simply between strangers but there was a community that had formed.
Everything
was set in a different perspective, the same way as when the vet walks in next
to the giraffe, lest we forget her size, the very thing that makes her unique. I
saw that there were people from all over the world talking to each other, all
while watching a giraffe.
So
here are some things I have learned from this community, mind you I am still
the occasional observer, but now I pay as much attention to the people as to
April.
1.
People
all over the world
Hate time change
Get up and have coffee or tea
Bring their children to school.
Share recipes
Can stand up against bias remarks
without anger but rather by asking them not to talk that way, it hurts my
feelings—which leads to
2.
People
all over the world
Say “I’m sorry.”
Love their pets
Make assumptions
Stay up too late
Worry that the mouse in the corner is
really a rat (as if a mouse isn’t bad enough)
3.
People all over the world
Are looking for community
Find joy in the ordinary
Can find ways to cross the imaginary
boundaries set between them.
Find common ground as they pray for
each other and each other’s family.
Recently I have noticed that some of the
people have begun to prepare themselves for saying good-bye—because even though
it seems like April will never have this baby—she will. Some have set up private groups on Facebook,
the chefs and pet lovers, the night owls and care takers, they will break off
into smaller groups and the truth is without April, I wonder how long they will
last, or even if they are meant to.
It is ironic to me as a pastor that this
international time of waiting is happening during Lent. For me this is a time of waiting,
paying attention, listening, seeing and looking for what God has in store for
me, and the community of faith I am connected to.
This is the time when the days grow longer
and the sun feels warmer and we would love to have spring rush in; all hope
cannot erase the need to wait.
I wait for the Lord, my whole being waits,
and in his word I put my hope.
6 I wait for the Lord
more than watchmen wait for the morning,
more than watchmen wait for the morning.
and in his word I put my hope.
6 I wait for the Lord
more than watchmen wait for the morning,
more than watchmen wait for the morning.
Psalm
130:5-6
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