By Steven Norris
Sometimes, the phrase “I love you” can be spelled S-U-N-D-R-O-P. I moved to Georgia in 2018 from North Carolina to take a position at my current church. During my sixteen years in North Carolina, I had come to love the taste of a very particular regional soda: Cherry Lemon Sun Drop. While you can get regular citrus Sun Drop here in Georgia, I have been unable to find the Cherry Lemon variety, no matter how hard I try (and I have looked hard).
I mentioned this to one of our church members in passing one day. Two different members have gone out of their way while in North Carolina on business or visiting family to bring me back a bottle or two. One member, however, took things a step further.
Instead of just buying me a twenty-ounce bottle or even a full two-liter, this person bought a twelve pack of the soda, though he did not give it to me at one time. Instead, he placed them in his refrigerator one at a time. Every time that I go over to his house, he hands me an ice-cold can of my favorite beverage. Every time that he comes over to my house, he comes with a single twelve-ounce gift in hand.
It is such a simple gesture, but this has been a way of saying to me — not once, not twice, but twelve different times — “I see you. I value you. You are important. I love you as a brother.” I was relaying this story to my spiritual director recently and I teared up as I told it. Honestly, I felt a bit ridiculous. “Why am I getting emotional over a can of soda?” I embarrassingly blurted out.
“You aren’t,” my director responded. “You are tearing up because someone took note of you — not your position, your performance, or your success/failure — but you as a person. In a world often devoid of kindness, it is understandable that such a gesture would stand out.”
What would it look like for more people of faith to make that kind of intentional effort to really notice others? What would it look like for us to slow down, take the time to really get to know someone, and express love in a tangible way? It would not have to be grand gestures. Sometimes, a simple can of soda can do the trick.
I love the way Eugene Peterson translates a passage from Matthew 10. Jesus is talking to his disciples when he says, “This is a large work I’ve called you into, but don’t be overwhelmed by it. It’s best to start small. Give a cool cup of water to someone who is thirsty, for instance. The smallest act of giving or receiving makes you a true apprentice. You won’t lose out on a thing.”
My friend is a true apprentice of Christ. His love has been expressed, not in words, but in action and truth. The world could certainly use a little more of such love.