August 2026 Newsletter – Pastor’s Page
As we enter August, we often do so with a haze. A haze of light smoke and poor air quality, and some of us have a haze of “when are tourists leaving?” They call it “Angry August” for a reason, right?
If your feeling numb to the extra traffic, or mildly annoyed anytime you have to go out in public, essayist Catherine Price has an idea for you. It’s called “the choice.” She shares her experiment with “the choice” in a recent Substack essay entitled “What Happens When We Choose Interaction Over Isolation?” – her words are so valuable, I have to lift them up here for our congregation.
We were all taught the golden rule of childhood safety: don’t talk to strangers. But as Price recently pointed out, what if that default setting is actually short-circuiting our spiritual health? Price walks us through her interactions and observations at a TSA airport security line (some may call this line hell on earth). Instead of remaining isolated and quiet, she shares an intense desire to speak and ask questions of the officers working security. But should she? Enter “the choice” – the decision of whether and how we should interact with people in any given moment.
Price quotes Nicholas Epley and his book A Little More Social. “The precise details behind each instance of ‘the choice’ vary, but its basic features are simple,” writes Epley. “Do you choose to approach another person and connect in some well-intended way, or do you choose to avoid the interaction and stay more disconnected?” For those of us who are shy and a little more introverted (yes, that’s me!), my “choice” in public usually boils down to being as efficient and quiet as possible.
But Epley and Price make the case that choosing isolation misses opportunities for joy and happiness. And that’s backed by science. Epley writes, “Being kind to someone, connecting with a stranger in conversation, acting friendlier when you’re around others, passing along a compliment, expressing gratitude when you feel it, reflecting on your appreciation for others, and even just saying hello to a bus driver or barista are all activities that scientists reliably find increase our happiness.”
What’s your default choice, and how might you choose interaction and connection with others? Perhaps it will turn into a “God moment” of kindness, encouragement, and friendship.
Check out Price’s article here: https://catherineprice.substack.com/p/what-if-dont-talk-to-strangers-is?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email
Blessings,
Pastor Jared