It has been said that hope is more than a thought – it is love in action. At a time when people think the world is going to pieces, generosity helps us feel whole again. Giving can fill many of the gaps left in government response to the virus, but it can also be a genuine response to our neighbor’s need and a heartfelt response to the challenge of the Gospel.
Right now, everyone is a responder, even if we are self-isolating. But many of us are capable of doing more. Locally, we have an impressive team of people making masks, well over 100 people in the parish are calling and writing to Seniors in order to stay in touch, and we have people stepping up to buy groceries and run errands for those who are more vulnerable. These are just a sampling of the many acts of kindness being shared. It has never been more true: “God is good! All the time!”
In this same spirit, some Canadians have offered the antithesis to the term “fearmongering.” They have coined the phrase “caremongering,” meaning “people uniting to celebrate and practice acts of kindness.” That certainly describes the Holy Cross response to our present, shared dilemma.
Meanwhile, the Archdiocese has handed on this item from the State of Oregon:
Every morning, Benjamin Franklin asked himself, “What good shall I do this day?” Oregonians are known for doing good and for our friendly, community-centered lifestyle, so staying home may feel odd or unhelpful – even though staying home is the best thing you can do. It is better than anything else on the list available at the link below or any other list. None of the activities recommended here violate the Stay Home executive order, nor do they put others at risk. If you’ve already mastered staying home, here are some ways you can get involved and be helpful.
As you consider the list at the link, please make important local connections, like the Senior outreach effort being coordinated by Jana Ripley and Ursula Cawley and our efforts to feed the hungry through the Holy Cross-St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry. Plant some seeds of hope today!
https://www.myoregon.gov/2020/03/31/how-can-i-help-with-the-coronavirus-effort-in-oregon-2/
