The Exorcism of Cynicism (01/10/2025)

I believe in the loving goodness woven into every human being by our creator. But, lately, because of series of disappointments, I am afraid I was becoming cynical about this innate goodness. One might perhaps say that carrying my purse cross body rather than putting it in the cart was smart, but I knew the reason was really lack of trust in the other. It was a lot of little things like that that slowly morphed into cynicism. And then I met a guy who turned me around through his honesty and goodwill.

You see, last Sunday I went to church, and I parked where I always park. I turned off the car. And immediately, a car turned onto the street where I was parked. I watched as the driver, watching the cars on the other side of the street veered into my car. There was nothing I could do except watch it happen. I knew the driver. I felt bad for him and didn’t want to further stress him. I got out, checked the damage and suggested it wasn’t all that bad, it was just a graze that messed up the paint on the fender, but no dents. He insisted on paying for its repair. We agreed I would get it fixed, and he would reimburse me.

So, Tuesday, after my errands, I stopped at an auto body and paint shop that had been recommended by friends. They told me the owner was an honorable and just man. He looked at my fender and told me there were two approaches to fix it. The first involved removing the fender and doing a total buff and repaint which would cost about $1000. Or he told me, he could simply buff out the skids and paint the small scratch for $150. Not surprisingly, I seized option 2. He said he could do it right away. So, I left the car.

Two hours later he called to tell me I could pick it up. I apprehensively asked the cost. He told me it would be $105.10 with tax. I did the happy dance. I went to get my car and thanked him profusely. And all the way home in my pristine vehicle, I thought of this man’s honesty and goodwill. And I could feel the cynicism melt away. Goodness does exist and not just in church. It exists in others in places we wouldn’t go looking for it necessarily like auto body shops.

And this morning, as I sat on the porch with the LORD, I thanked Him for this gentleman and for his goodness. And I thanked the LORD for the impact of this one man’s goodness on me. He probably thought he was just fixing a fender; truth is, he restored my faith in others. I needed that.

I promised the LORD that I would follow the example of this man and do what I could daily to restore the faith of others in the goodness within us, given us by our loving Creator. I admitted that it's not the grand gestures but rather the kindness and goodness possible in the ordinary moments that we are all called to seize and live the love given to us so generously by our LORD.

As we continue, let us be the sowers of the LORD, sowing trust in one another through our own actions, our own presence, reflecting the LORD who created us and called us into being.

Until tomorrow, let us all love well.