Is it my imagination or have people become increasingly cranky? Maybe I have become hypersensitive in this environment of an extended pandemic, racial injustice, and political nastiness. During this time maybe the cultural veneer of our nation’s character has cracked and the real us is on display. Car horns seem to blow quicker. Irritability is verbally expressed more sharply and more often. Patience – never a strong national attribute – has shortened. Smiles have become more infrequent. People’s greetings are acknowledged even less. Mistakes are magnified while gratitude for kindnesses are minimalized. You get the point. We have become a grumpy society basking in mistakes of others, while becoming emotional bulldozers in interactions with people. We have become a nation of nit pickers – and it shows!
Emotionally current issues appear to have
a major impact upon people. The NPR organization reports that “Nearly a quarter
of the people in the United States are experiencing depression… That’s nearly
three times the number before the COVID-19 pandemic began.” Why is this crisis
causing more trauma than others like September 11th and Hurricane
Katrina? There are likely multiple factors. Dr. Sandro Galea, dean of the
School of Public Health in Boston, reasons anxiety exists as people not only
fear catching the virus but also the resulting economic implications. They are also
seeing the emotional tragedy broadcast on the news 24/7. It seems like there is
no place to avoid the layering on of bad news, new news, or questionable news. An
irrational impression develops that this mess will never end. It is no wonder
that the Center for Disease Control and Prevention reported in mid-August that
“a significant number of American’s reported experiencing mental health
symptoms during the pandemic – including depression, anxiety, substance abuse
and thoughts of suicide” (www.npr.org). All this is occurring while Psychologist
George Everly at John Hopkins University notes that the most effective way to
manage stress – social connection within a community – has been neutralized by
social distancing and required isolation.
This environment has generated irritability. The American Psychological Association did a survey in July of 3,010 Americans and reported “Among the survey respondents, 40 percent reported feeling frustrated (compared to 30 percent in April and May), while 18 percent said they felt angry (up from 12 percent). Americans are, in other words, getting angrier by the day” (www.nbcnews.com). So, the guy who laid onto the horn the other day may simply be having a hard time dealing with the collection of crises that to him seems to be out of his control, and he is frustrated. The only thing he could control was his horn!
Must we conclude this is hopeless? Should
we just ignore the outbursts of our cranky culture? Do we retaliate and roll
down our “emotional windows” and respond with a cranky outburst of our own? Perhaps
there are some checks we could make that may neutralize some of the irritability
and anger swirling around us. First, do a “self-focused” check. Jesus taught in
Matthew 7:1-5 that we need to check on our issues – the plank in our own eye –
before we try and correct flaws – the sawdust – we see in others. Too often when
we are stressed by life’s circumstances, we bypass our reactions and focus upon
how another has acted. These are tough days for more than us. Extend a little
more grace to the overwhelmed person you may be encountering.
Second, do an “other-focused” check. Jesus
taught in Matthew 7:12 (NLT), “Do to others whatever you would like them to do
to you.” How many times would aggravations either diminish or evaporate if this
principle were implemented. I loved seeing a news a report that displayed this
attitude. Steffy’s Towing company in Ephrata found $32,000.00 in a car that was
totaled. They returned the money to the owner and responded when questioned
about their action, “"I would hope that if we ever found ourselves in that
position somebody would do the same for us." What a change could occur in a
cranky world if people viewed life in this way – “other-focused.”
Last, do a “Jesus-focused” check. Jesus challenged
his disciples right after he had washed their feet in John 13:14-15 (NLT), “Since
I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other’s
feet. I have given you an example to follow. Do as I have done to you.” When
there is any doubt as to how we should operate in a cranky world, we have an
example of how we should treat others. Look for ways to serve and care for them.
How many stressed-out, cranky people would be transformed with such treatment.
Years ago, I taught a children’s Bible
club. One chorus the children liked to sing had these words, “Jesus, and
others, and you, what a wonderful way to spell joy!” Perhaps when we encounter
crankiness in our culture we can keep these words in in mind, “J stands for
Jesus for he has first place; O stands for others we meet face to face; Y
stands for you in whatever you do; Put yourself last and spell joy.” I have a
strong feeling there may be some changes in our cranky culture if this chorus
was implemented in real life!
