Patrick Lane had finished moving his daughter into her first apartment--her first year of college—when he gave her a long, loving hug and said,
“I'm proud of you, Katie bug.'”
That would be the last time Katie would hug her father.
“If I had known that was my last time talking to him and hugging him, I would've held on a little longer," she reflected.
"There was just so much I wanted to do with him and now I don't get the chance," said Patrick's 18-year-old son, Evan. Katie and Evan’s 45-year father died of COVID-19. He wasn’t vaccinated. Katie said her dad planned to get vaccinated but believes he was hesitant, in part, from watching right-wing media reports. “We think he was a victim of misinformation."
Here is some information from God in this current and fatal maelstrom of COVID misinformation, “Love is kind”, according 1 Corinthians 13:4-7. What God is saying in this iconic Scripture often quoted at weddings is this: Love is practical. It is doable. It gives life. As many grapple with who to listen to in this toxic time of pandemic mistruths, let love—agape, self-sacrificing—lead you.
Do the loving thing because love never fails. Why? Because it is something we can all do. It is practical. The gifted Corinthians did not always practice what was practical. But life-giving agape love is an inoculation against life-stealing ignorance.
1. Love is patient. When everybody has written you off because of your goof-ups, it is the patient person who hangs in there with you; who never gives up on you, who believes in the mature person you will become. You, in turn, must be patient with others—even the misinformed.
2. Love is kind. When there is an underdog among you, it is the kind person who seizes the moment to encourage and not kill. Lend a hand, not a slap. Be kind and watch it change the condition of the low-esteemed.
3. Love does not envy. What God has for you is for you. There is no value in fixating on what your neighbor has, tempting you to steal. Love celebrates someone else’s success.
4. Love does not boast; is not proud. Love never says: Look what I have. Love says: “What I have is for you.” Pride kills fathers. Pride kills families. Pride sucks the air out of countries. Love says: “I’m proud of you”—the last words Patrick told his daughter before COVID misinformation mounted its charge.
5. Love is not rude. Love knows its place. It still says “Yes, sir and No ma’am”. Love respects rather than wrecks. Love aims, not at winning the argument, but rather, saving a life. Love seeks harmony and community, not self-serving victories.
6. Love is not selfish. Love says: “What’s mine is yours. My success is your success.
7. Love is not easily angered. Love holds back her anger when she has every reason to unload on you. Love knows that the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God.
8. Love does not keep score. “You’re Blue. I’m Red.” Score: 0-0. “You’re Left. I’m Right.” Score: 0-0. “You’re Liberal. I’m Conservative. I’m CNN. You’re Fox.” The only score that matters with love is this: Life-700,000 (The number of lives lost to COVID), Death-0.
Someone in the path of Patrick Lane didn’t love him. They were unvaccinated, and unmasked. He waited for FDA approval when there was enough existing science that documented masks and vaccinations are life-saving measures against COVID. He listened to misinformation. It robbed him of time and more importantly, daddy-daughter hugs.
I substitute teach at a school where I and a few students—one or two in a classroom of 15—wear masks. I am fully vaccinated. I am poised for the question—the argument-baiting question— “Why are you wearing a mask?”
The only answer—the disarming, arm-hugging—answer is this: “I do not want to get you sick. I want you around. The world needs your talents and contributions. I’d miss you if you were not here. I want you to be around to hug your parents at graduation, to have boy-friends and girl-friends, to have a family and a life. It’s the least and the most I can do to say:
‘I love you.’”
Love. How can you argue with that?
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