How it got on American soil is something that boggles my mind.

 

Is it right for us to worry about contracting the disease? Is it a legitimate concern?  Do we limit our travels? Do we board up our houses and have our families wear goggles and surgeon’s masks?

 

With Thanksgiving occurring this week, I began focusing my mind on the good things in life — family, friends, my job, my marriage, my faith. It’s good practice to thank God for all his blessings throughout the year and not just on the last Thursday of the month of November.

 

Jerusalem two thousand years ago was no stranger to infection. Leprosy was highly infectious — more so than Ebola. 

 

To prevent Leprosy from spreading, the communities created certain rules: lepers were ordered to wear a sign, ring a bell (like a cow - a bit demeaning) and keep their distance. This way, they thought, the threat of catching and passing on the illness could be contained. 

 

Imagine us in 2014 draping bells around those infected with infectious diseases to avoid contact and contamination. Imagine  the bell ringers outside the grocery store as people who are infected. Would we treat them any different? Would we walk away and keep our distance?

 

What’s worse, I began thinking, is not just the physical contamination of a disease that barrages the body — but mental contamination from immoral behavior.

 

In BSF, we are studying the life of Moses and we recently discussed the 10 Commandments and their significance. It amazes me that of all the things we are allowed to do as humans under God’s eyes, he has but 10 simple commands for us to follow — and yet we all fail in obedience of these rules on a daily basis.

 

Jerusalem two thousand years ago also knew the dangers of moral corruption or teachings from another faith or other people’s world views. Their objective was to avoid mixing with non-Jewish types, don’t fraternize with  tax collectors, don’t trade ideas with a Roman and avoid the sinner (as you would a leper). This way a good Jewish boy could remain a good Jewish boy.

 

And then Jesus came. 

 

He broke the mold by breaking bread with tax collectors. He trampled on social customs and hung around with prostitutes. He unlocked the chains of unlove and touched lepers.

 

Yes, he actually touched them! Would any of us be willing to do that with an Ebola patient?

 

Jesus seemed to be a law unto Himself. Instead of worrying about being infected, He infected others with dignity and humanity. He infected screw-ups with second chances. He infected sinful people with the holiness germ.

 

There’s lots to be thankful this holiday season and sometimes its not easy to see the blessings through the chaos of our normal lives. But when it comes down to it, if we focus our attentions this Thanksgiving and Christmas on the little things that have blessed our lives, maybe the havoc of the real world will seem that much more insignificant.

 

Let’s infect others this time of year with love, peace and happiness. 

 

Leave the bells for the trees, for the red kettles and Santa’s sleigh.