Contagion

Flu season is hanging around. especially in the MMM household. My EC had it, grandbaby had it, two of my kids have had it, and one of them, being an over-achiever, had it twice. Who knew?

Our house has been a petri-dish of coughing, sneezing, and wheezing and hand-sanitizer for the past month, and it’s not only us. It seems like everyone has either had it, or has someone in their family who has had it. I count my blessings that I have been resistant…so far.  (I did get a flu shot after everyone around me started dropping like flies.)

When we hear about someone or something being contagious, our mind immediately jumps to how we protect ourselves. Rightfully so. That is because contagion is almost always associated with something bad. Probably because most things that are contagious are bad. (I have yet to have someone cough on me and give me a terminal case of financial security.)

Viruses and bacteria can be contagious, but so can bad moods, negative attitudes and fear. While hate and prejudice are especially virulent in large groups, unkindness, gossip and despair can be transmitted through casual contact.

Personally, I’m not aware of any positive bacteria or viruses that I can transmit to those who come in contact with me, but I do know that there are good and bad things that I can expose people to. One of the most effective ways to prove that point is to watch and see how my demeanor can infect my family. If I come home from work in a foul mood, I can rapidly transmit that through close contact with the members of my family – just as I can if I come home with a happy, loving demeanor. It can travel rapidly!

Time for a story:

There is a man who lived in our ward that we love. His name is Brother Butler. He home-taught our family for almost a decade. One of the things he is famous of is his unflagging positive attitude, even in the midsts of difficulty.

Whenever you greet Brother Butler with a handshake, he will has, “How are you doing?”

You can answer whatever way you like – you can say “Terrific!” “Great,” “Okay,” or even “not so good.” None of these answers is acceptable to Brother Butler. He won’t let go of your hand until you answer correctly.  There is only one correct answer.

“Fantastic!”

And better yet, he wants you to mean it.  Over the years, he has conditioned everyone he knows to respond in a ‘Fantastic” manner whenever they greet him. It brings a smile, and a flash of self-analysis, to all who cross his path.

A few years ago, Brother and Sister Butler were on their way to a Christmas party to play Santa and Mrs. Claus, decked out in full costume, when the were involved in a major traffic accident. Both were hospitalized with serious injuries – we almost lost Brother Butler.

When my EC and I went to the hospital to visit them. I went to Brother Butler’s bedside and gently asked him, “How are you doing, Clark?”

“Fantastic!” was his feeble reply. He is nothing if not consistent. He has since recovered and is still fantastic. And it is contagious.

He is an example of a man who has a knack of transmitting a good feeling to those he encounters.

If you take a minute and think about it, I’m sure you can come up with a few people in your circles who are contagious – for good or ill. Some can brighten your day in an instant, others can share their dark cloud a la Eeyore.

Are you contagious? Am I? I doubt any of us are really neutral.  And if we aren’t neutral, what do we infect people with?

As I was doing some searching to reinforce this idea, I came across several quotes along the same lines from a very, very legit source.  Elder Neal A. Maxwell.  Since I’m never going to say it better than he does,  I’ll just let him make the case:

Hope can be contagious, especially if we are to be “ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh … a reason of the hope that is in us” (1 Pet. 3:15). Said President Brigham Young, if we do not impart knowledge to others and do good, we “will become contracted in our views and feelings.”  (Link)

Damage to ourselves is sufficient reason to resist murmuring, but another obvious danger is its contagiousness. Even faithful father Lehi, for one brief moment, got caught up in the contagion of murmuring. (See 1 Ne. 16:20.) Similarly, when Moses lapsed, very briefly, it was under exasperating pressure from rebels. (See Num. 20:7–12.) No one knows how to work a crowd better than the adversary.

Instead of murmuring, therefore, being of good cheer is what is needed, and being of good cheer is equally contagious. We have clear obligations to so strengthen each other by doing things “with cheerful hearts and countenances.” (Link)

Like Jesus, we can decide, daily or instantly, to give no heed to temptation (see D&C 20:22). We can respond to irritation with a smile instead of scowl, or by giving warm praise instead of icy indifference. By our being understanding instead of abrupt, others, in turn, may decide to hold on a little longer rather than to give way. Love, patience, and meekness can be just as contagious as rudeness and crudeness. (Link)

Bullet points from Elder Maxwell:

Contagious Bad: 

• Murmuring

• Rudeness

• Crudeness

Contagious Good:

• Love

• Patience

• Meekness

• Hope

With every interaction we have with each other, whether in person, on the phone, written or online, we are contagious. We are transmitting something to the recipient. Either we bless their lives with what we are transmitting, or we afflict them.

I’m heading off to church later this morning, and I am going to give myself a silent evaluation – what am I spreading? Am I spreading negativism, cynicism, and doubt? Or am I spreading cheerfulness, love and hope?

It is a rough season for many with the current political world, and there is nothing more toxic. How nice it would be if we, as “saints,” chose to be contagious in only the best of ways in all our communications.

There are a lot of people out there, some within our immediate circles, who could use a little contagion – a smile, a hug, some love, some hope.

May we infect them all.