Take time to smile, say ‘hi’ to those you meet

 “Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of the prophecy, and blessed are those who hear and who keep what is written in it; for the time is near.”
Revelation 1: 3
 
Dear friends and members of our area Dodge County Communities: It truly is spring. Yay! Some of us, have been really waiting to go for walks without coats, sunshiny skies, smell of freshly mowed grass and bike/motorcycle/convertible rides!
Now, my grass is green and growing faster than I am liking. The tulips, daffodils and other spring flowers have bloomed beautifully and my ferns are over taken my flower beds, (grrrrr), the weeds are appearing and my neighbor is talking about summer being short and soon winter will be here. (Say what?) LOL...I am enjoying every day that I can and don’t need the reminder of our four seasons.
Most of my neighbors have tilled and planted their gardens and are dreaming about the fresh vegetables that we will soon begin to harvest…life is good.
The farmers, in my neck of the woods, have most or all of their crops planted and a couple are in the process of cutting/baling their first crop of hay. It is a beautiful time to live in rural southeast Minnesota.
There is a sense of getting back to a calmer... more ordinary time so we can enjoy the spring and summer the next two-three months to the maximum. (I am chuckling, as I write this article, because the statement “ordinary time” is also the season of “Ordinary Time” from the Monday after Pentecost through the Saturday before the First Sunday of Advent!) The liturgical calendar of seasons and the secular daily living calendars seem to be in sync. I am enjoying the harmony!
June (and July) are, also, the months many families have home renovation projects going and vacations scheduled. It is a busy but happy (productive) time for many (both individuals and families).
However, as I look forward to summer, other people are not. Many individuals and families are experiencing very difficult times.
Within our communities, many individuals are dealing with major health challenges.
Other individuals are struggling with affording raised rent prices, fuel costs, medications and basic food prices. Others are trying to find comfortable new routines, since they are new to retirement. And still others are trying to adjust to being alone because their loved ones have died and this is their first spring/ summer season without them.
And, yes, some have new additions to their family and are living into those changes. Other neighbors, colleagues, team workers, business employees may have family members struggling with health, financial, emotional, housing, transportation challenges that are weighing and wearing heavily on them, so, please...be caring, kind and realistic that all of us carry heavy loads
and just because someone appears to have it easy or all together does not mean that is the truth of their heart.
We don’t always know what our neighbors are going through/dealing with/experiencing so be kind. Make those five second connections to say “hi”, to smile, to wave, to shake a hand, to acknowledge you see them and care.
Life is short and those brief, five seconds do add up...but they can make a world of difference in another person’s life.
I know you are busy and have much on your mind and heart, so...just know you matter, you are cared about and I am glad our paths crossed, today. If I see you out walking, or happen to see you in a store or at the gas station...just know that I will probably say “hi” or wave or smile or nod.
I believe spring and summer are great seasons to emerge from our winter’s hibernation and be the outgoing/ social/gregarious/individuals we can be.
I wish you sunshine in your heart, and I pray someone makes your day. You made mine by reading the thoughts of my heart, in this article.
You have made me smile and remember that life is meant to be shared. I hope to see you soon out and about in the community.
Blessings and peace,
 
Alice Mae
The Rev. Alice Mae Applequist is pastor at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church