Ever wish there was something simple you could do to help heal the world?  

Last Sunday in my sermon I spoke about Vivek Murthy, the US Surgeon General.  In 2023 he proclaimed that our nation is in a public health crisis of loneliness, and that the physical, emotional, and social ramifications of loneliness are as dangerous as any disease process: poor health, despair, early death.  Being a physician, Murthy has a prescription for this crisis:  we need to build (or re-build) an infrastructure of social connection, just like we have infrastructures of roads and tunnels and institutions.  

Murthy offers a simple action that helps to build a bit of this social connection infrastructure, and we did it together in worship:  Every who had a cell phone took it out, right then, and sent a message to someone they knew (but not in their own family), telling them how grateful they were for that person in their lives.  It took maybe a minute and a half, tops.  Some phones buzzed, as people in the congregation received messages from others who were there 🙂

Murthy prescribes that we all do this not just once, but once a day for five days.  (Just like taking an antibiotic!) 

I’m writing this reflection today for two reasons: 
 

• First, for anyone on this list who didn’t take part in worship last Sunday in person or online (or who hasn’t listened to the message this week), I encourage you to take up this simple, 6-day practice.  It will not only spread gratitude to those you message; it will increase the gratitude in your own life!

• Second, I know how easily good intentions get buried in the press of the everyday.  So if you did hear this message on Sunday, and did send a message that morning, and then maybe didn’t follow up for the next five days … I encourage you to finish those follow-up messages.  Unlike antibiotics, a message of gratitude sent later than intended isn’t any less effective!

Murthy describes the effects of these gratitude messages as “ripples” —  ripples of connection that flow into directions and into hearts we don’t expect.  Each of these messages is a brick in the social connection infrastructure that’s so badly needed in our society, and in our world.  And in our own hearts, as well.  Will this fix all the problems facing us?  Of course not.  Does it offer some of the connection, love and resilience we need to address those problems? Yes, and every bit counts.

So: take a minute and a half, and send a message declaring your gratitude to someone in your life.  This is how resurrection love spreads — just as Jesus’ earthly ministry did — one relationship, one connection at a time.