I have admitted to listening to talk radio before and that it must be one of the truest signs of aging or at least maturity. As I was listening the other day the repetition of a phrase and response caught my attention. Do you think talk show hosts get tired of answering the question, “how are you today?”
It seems like every caller who is granted access starts off with that query regardless of the previous answer to the caller before them and the caller before them and on and on. The hosts basically all say a brief equivalent of “fine” and then allow the caller to have their 30 seconds of fame.
That question has become just a salutatory phrase and used around the church it occurs a casual, obligatory greeting that unfortunately is meaningless. I’m not the first one to point this out nor am I innocent of asking without really caring. But what if we really listened or we were really honest?
The Joseph stories of Genesis remind me of his remarkable perception and caring. Joseph had been through a lot in his brief life and wound up in jail. But instead of focusing on his circumstances the Bible notes that he noticed the countenance of fellow prisoners, the baker and butler one day. Even as a prisoner himself, Joseph took time to notice and care for others. As a result, God’s plans unfolded in what possibly seemed like a dead end dungeon and Joseph’s life impacted thousands.
Don’t miss the the chance to show compassion or be honest with someone you trust today.