Caring X

I thank my God every time I remember you . . . 

 - From Philippians 1

The Apostle Paul was probably the most tireless worker of his era. He gave up a comfortable calling as a Pharisee, to live as a wanderer and frequent prison inmate. He became a man on the run, keeping one step ahead of the authorities so that he could present the Gospel in the seat of the Empire. 

He served others.He laid his life down for others - for people he knew and people he didn't know. 

He was not a political animal. His methods were the opposite of what it takes to gain political power. His answer to feeding the hungry was to preach the Gospel of Eternal Life to them. And he could feed them if he wanted to. He clothed, healed, housed, and educated a needy generation with the Love of God. 

And yet . . . in the end, he overflowed with appreciation for them. It was as if, by serving them, he was being served by them. (The meaning of Christmas?)

Paul was the exemplary of the virtue of "caring." He really cared . . . because he was more than sacrificial; way beyond expecting anything in return. He really, truly, loved those he served.

And this is what "caring" is all about.

Research has shown that, in our modern times, both people on the Right and the Left, politically, are motivated by the virtue of "caring" when they make their voting decisions. We all sincerely want to help others. We just have different methods. Some show their care by electing people to government that will take care of the poor for them. Others show their care by volunteering and anonymously doing good works of service, directly, to the needy. 

But they all care. We all care. 

And we are wrong, even wicked, when we draw comparisons here and try to paint others as wrong, or evil, because they do not show their care as we would like them to. It's just plain wrong. 

But even though we all care, it turns out that "caring" is not what we thought it was. It's more than a platitude, or a tenet in our belief system.

In looking back at this ten-blog series on "Caring," it is clear that caring is work, sacrificial, selfless, and is beyond the reach of most people. Our goal should be to grow as people that care. Our goal should not be to just say we care and leave it at that. 

And our goal absolutely should not be to criticize others, because they may not appear to care as much as we do. 

There's more to it, than our eyes can see . . . and the truly caring do so in secrecy and anonymity.

The good news is that we are a species of people that care. 

The bad news is that we have divided ourselves over meaningless differences in what that means. 

So let's take this one off the table, of issues that divide us. 

Go help somebody. 

Next: Fairness