One year ago, Milan welcomed me with open arms. This year, the region is on quarantine for coronavirus.⁣
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You don’t want something to spread? Simply don’t allow those who have the thing to interact with those who do not have the thing.⁣
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So what can we learn about things that we actually want to spread, like joy, or hope, or good ideas?⁣
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Those with the thing need to interact with those who do not have the thing.⁣
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And we need to be out there, making sure we’re sharing the joy, hope, and good news as openly as some sort of good virus.⁣
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A little too often, we wait for someone to ask for help before offering. (Offering, and getting their consent, of course.) ⁣
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Or we think that just because we mentioned it once, they’ll know to come to us when they need something, putting the burden on them to make it happen. ⁣
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Or we don’t want to get involved because it seems too big, instead of opening ourselves up to listen to the story of a struggling person or group of people. ⁣
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Today, reach out and interact with someone who needs joy, or hope, or a good idea. Actually smile at a stranger. Actually go next door to visit your elderly neighbor. Actually write a direct message to that person you haven’t seen in a while who is struggling. Maybe even reach out to an oppressed group in your midst who may need a bit of hope or another voice added to their cause.⁣
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Let’s make joy, hope, and good news go viral. ⁣