When I worked for the Cleveland Lumberjacks Hockey Team (not to be confused with Monty Python’s Lumberjacks), we used to play this song called “Why can’t we be friends” whenever a fight broke out on the ice. I thought about that the other day during my last ride down to the beach. Both cats and the dog came on this trip. The cats hate the car but I had to take them. Grendel stood up (shaking) for the first 20 minutes afraid the cat was going to smack him. The cat was so nervous she didn’t care about him but he didn’t know that. By the end, it was almost like they were friends.

 

So why does it seem like it always takes traumatic situations to bring people (or pet-siblings) together? History is filled with examples of this—the American colonies in the 18th century, the characters in Lost (live together or die alone), and many of us after a disaster hits our country (Katrina, 9/11).

I propose we reach out to each other when we don’t have to. Let’s see what that feels like. My church has started a movement (if you will) called Grace Epidemic. Its intention is to basically “pay it forward.” If you feel like you want to help someone—it can be in all sorts of ways big and small—then check it out at http://www.graceepidemic.com/.

Just as I was finishing this post I received an e-mail from a friend who is a civilian currently deployed in Qatar. He gave a wonderful description of what life was like there and mentioned that a recurring theme was the co-mingling of all kinds of people dressed in everything from bikinis to suits and burkas. All talking, socializing, going to the gym, raising their kids, and getting along. What a wonderful, colorful world we live in.

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