I was a single mother recovering from pneumonia, and I’ll never forget one weeknight, a woman from our church that I didn’t even know well rang our doorbell.  In her generous arms was a beautiful hot dinner, complete with dessert.  I do remember crying when I received that gift.  It was probably one of the most delicious meals we’ve ever eaten.  To this day, over 25 years later, my heart is stilled warmed and my mouth still waters at the remembrance.

Which brings me to the present.  I’m currently recovering from foot surgery.  And I’ve learned some valuable lessons.  About who reaches out to you when you need it most.  And who does not.  About people who go out of their way to check on you, visit you.  And who does not.  Realizing that people generally mean well and aren’t neglecting anyone intentionally, still they do not.

But much more importantly, I need to look in the mirror, deep down in my own heart with conviction and realize that I, too, am one of the “Do Nots” all too often.  I fall easily into the seconds-long simplicity of hearting someone on Facebook, offering my prayers with a prayers-hands emoji.  Or a quick text.  But now I know… that isn’t anywhere near enough, though it is perhaps one step above doing nothing.  And if I’m completely honest, do I truly pray for that person?  Do I even remember?  Or is it quickly forgotten as I get up and go on to the next whatever in my overcrowded, busy life?

In Matthew 20, Jesus encounters two blind beggars sitting beside the road, as He was on His way to Jerusalem.  In verse 32 we are told:

Jesus stopped and called them.  “What do you want Me to do for you?” He asked.

He stopped.  He spoke to them.  He didn’t ask if they wanted His help, but instead asked specifically what they wanted.  If anyone was busy, it was Jesus!  But He stopped, and spoke face-to-face with them, and asked them what they needed.

Caring.  Connection.  Communication.  It takes time.  It takes effort.  It takes stepping out of our planned agenda and making time for someone else.  It’s messy.  It’s inconvenient. It’s exhausting.

It’s loving others like ourselves.

It’s calling someone.  It’s going to their home and inviting them into your home.  It’s having coffee.  It’s cooking a meal and bringing it over. It’s checking on someone to make sure they are doing okay, and spending your time in face-to-face, heart-to-heart, hand-to-hand relationship-building connection.   And not just in convenient “reach out to someone” causes/programs where you volunteer for a few hours once a year or write out a check, though again, that’s not a bad place to start.  It’s one-on-one, to the neighbor whose name you may not even know, or a co-worker, a classmate, that woman in your group fitness class, a friend, that family member, or to a person you sit next to in church or at a community function time after time, but know only superficially.

If we are too busy to do this, then we are too busy.

If we say we are Christ-followers, then we need to walk the talk.  In a world of techno-connection, people are more isolated and lonely than ever before. We need to be the heart and hands of Christ to a broken world. We can’t stay comfortable – assuming someone else is reaching out. We need to take off the bumper sticker, take off the “Jesus and…” tee shirt, and do what our Lord did – stop, talk, listen, and find out how we can meet the needs of those around us. Let’s get off social media.  Get in the car.  Get on the doorstep.

Let us all become Doers.

James 1:22  “But prove yourselves doers of the Word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves.”