‘Tell someone who cares!’
I remember seeing this phrase plastered all over a billboard on the side of a commercial building years ago, and at the time I questioned the intention of the message. Was this an encouragement to share confidently and confidentially knowing that the writer was dedicated to caring for you, or was it is a ‘big brush off’ because the writer was letting you know quite sarcastically that you are not likely to receive any assistance here?!
I don’t think care should be confusing – I believe it should be clear. Clear and kind. Why?
Because we need peace. Peace in overseas war-torn areas, peace in our suburban shopping centres, peace on our sports fields, peace in our chambers of parliament, and peace in our families, our homes, our heads and our hearts. Learning to care more deeply will encourage us to persevere not give up, help not hurt, talk not yell, listen not speak, engage not avoid, unify not divide, and strengthen not destroy – leading ultimately to a more peaceful world for us all.
Caring is an important component of fruitful life in any thriving community. There is no doubt about the need to care. I don’t believe too many people would debate the value of care, but the fact of the matter is that caring for people, situations and environments is tiring. It can be emotionally and physically exhausting, which is why workplaces offer Carer’s Leave, and why Respite Care is provided by volunteers through numerous organisations to assist tired parents in our community.
There is a cost to caring. When we care we expend time and energy.
But does that mean we shouldn’t care? I would suggest not.
Care is a pillar of most religions; looking after others – particularly the poor, needy, vulnerable and sick, and those who cannot care for themselves. It is a foundation stone of Christianity. The Bible is full of words, phrases, stories, proverbs and passages promoting caring for one another. Here is one example:
‘…Be devoted to one another…honour one another above yourselves…never be lacking in zeal when serving…be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, and faithful in prayer. Share with all people who are in need, and practice care and hospitality…’ – Select verses, Romans 12
The book of Romans was written thousands of years ago, but nothing has changed. We still need to care.
Theodore Roosevelt, the American statesman, author, explorer, soldier, naturalist and historian, who served as the 26th President of the United States between 1901 and 1909, once famously remarked that, ‘Nobody cares how much you know, until they know how much you care.’
The desire and commitment to care for others is fundamental to the positive health and growth of any society – but we need to ask ourselves two challenging questions: ‘What is my role?’ and, ‘Am I making a genuine effort and a sincere contribution?’
Care is best described as ‘…an effort made to help keep someone or something, healthy, safe or in good condition…’ and it is one of the most difficult things you will ever do. It takes great strength and resolve to care properly and consistently. Those who have provided care to ill relatives, or to grieving friends, can attest to the weight we bear when we care.
The history of the world has proven that cultures and societies that don’t care, don’t last. The absence of care and the resultant rise of the ‘I don’t care’ mentality will eventually lead to a lack of health and safety and an overall deterioration of condition – in both environments and people.
If we fail to care for and look after our trees and plants, they will not live. If we fail to care for our homes and investment portfolios, they may fade, deteriorate and dwindle away. If we therefore realise how integral it is to care for flora and finances, do we know just how deeply important it is to care for each other?
Let’s start with the little things. Smile. Speak when you are spoken to. Listen. Pay attention. Think. Care about your attitude. Care about your choice of words. Care about the way you treat other people. As we start to consistently improve these ‘smaller’ areas of life we will continue to build the culture of care within our community – and from there we can achieve the bigger projects of caring for other countries and larger situations. But our concern in matters further afield will not be sustainable until we develop a strong level of care for those immediately around us: and that includes ourselves. Self-care is vital. Body, Soul and Spirit. Caring about your own physical, emotional and spiritual health is important. Sleep, nutrition and exercise will help you care for your body; mindfulness, rest and downtime to unwind will help you care for your soul; examining and determining your beliefs and values will help you care for your spirit. We can measure all of this by observing our physical condition, our attitudes and our behaviours – we will know how we are travelling if we are honest with ourselves.
I hope and pray that we can all be people now and into the future who can say, ‘Tell someone who cares’, and mean it sincerely and genuinely.
Bless you.
Revd Tim Edwards
Lead Chaplain
