What the world needs now...

I'm sure you'd agree with me if I said that recent current events haven't necessarily inspired faith in humanity. It seems everyone is on edge, everywhere you go... which isn't that many places. But whether you're online, at the store, chatting with that close circle of friends that seems to get smaller and smaller, we all agree that society is going down hill fast.

That's why this story really refreshes my heart. Exactly one year ago, back when the shock of pandemic and riots were just a blip on the horizon, someone created a Facebook group for guys named Josh... and posted this.

These coordinates point to an open field somewhere in Nebraska. While the meme got some traction on message boards and social media throughout the last 12 months, everyone assumed it to be a gag. A clever little joke that would never reach any fruition, no one is going to drive or fly all the way to Nebraska to duke it out over their name. Right?

Then I saw this on Twitter today:

Thousands... I mean thousands of Josh's, equipped with pool noodles, costumes, and a general sense of adolescent mischief, showed up today at the precise spot at the precise time, and fulfilled the prophecy.

I know what you're thinking, not the wisest "social distancing" event. But still, it warms my heart that something like this can still take place. That a large group of strangers can participate in an event like this, devoid of politics, (extreme) violence, and vitriol, gives me more hope than I even realized I needed. Forgetting our differences and enjoying ourselves for an afternoon, for no other reason than that life is still good and people can still reward themselves with a laugh, an adventure, and a whack from a foam noodle. Heaven help us if we ever forget that. It's a great story, as far as I'm concerned. And if you don't "get it," you should at least be touched by the outcome:

Behold the winner of the "Josh Fight," 4 year old Josh Vinson, Jr.

No word yet on what the losers are going to change their names to.