“How are you?” he asked
As expected, not interested
He asked because he had to
He asked to check the box
Expecting nothing more
Than, “Good, thank you.”
How many “How are you?”
Do you log in per day?
How many of those
Truly care to know?

Food For Thought: “How are you,” is considered polite inquiry of the wellbeing of others. It has become a global anthem, an automated greeting that has lost its meaning. “How are you?” doesn’t really mean that I am interested in what’s up with you. It doesn’t mean I am willing to “waste” my time on what’s wrong and right with you. It’s just a question that is expected and should thus be matched with the normal, “Very well, thank you.” Who needs more than a few seconds to ask such a simple question? Rushing by, the question is thrown out and if unfortunately that day you are seeking for a vent; sorry, not available, try another. It’s a fast world for the fast ones. We breeze past each other every day until something pins us to a spot, for a while or for so long and as we watch others spinning past like we used to, we wonder at such a crowded and yet lonely world. When was the last time you called someone up to truly know how they are doing? When was the last time you were willing to take a while to know how things are going with someone you know? Not because you can solve their problems – after all you haven’t been proficient enough to get your acts together. We will all implode if all we cared about is ourselves. No matter how much we wish, all our issues will not be resolved in one day or in such ways to make us experts of life. We don’t need expertise to care. We don’t need any more qualifications than being human to care. Everyone and everything could be in such rush but you can make out time if you choose to. Nothing beats taking time out to extend care to another and it always comes back to us when we need it most.

Scripture: Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. Galatians 6: 2.

Prayer: Dear Lord, when the world hurries by uncaring, help me to reach through my needs, to those that come my way, spreading care and comfort upon the bread of their needs, amen.