Musing – When we ask “How are you?” do we really care?

Hebraic Musing – When we ask “How are you?” do we really care?

  God’s word speaks to this in these verses.  Proverbs 14:13 is a head scratcher but contains a critical message.   Even in laughter the heart may ache, and joy may end in grief.  NIV    Just because someone is laughing, does that mean they are happy?  Just because someone appears to be enjoying life, does that mean they are ok? BTW – the suicide rate is highest in the holiday season; some people are really hurting.

How might this relate to Lev. 19:16 “… Do not do anything that endangers your neighbor's life”?  In this section God lists a series of admonishments telling us how to be neighborly?  We know we are to “love your neighbor as yourself” and love means not being indifferent to another person’s pain.

Let’s re-phrase the question.  When we ask someone “How are you?” are we too willing to take their glib answer as the whole truth?   An Australian recognized the danger of this “mask-wearing” and instituted a national “R U OK Day.”  He was the son of a successful businessman whom everyone thought was thriving in life. However, his father was not ok, and tragically, he took his own life.  To do something positive with the tragedy of losing his father, he started the “R U OK Day” organization to get people to look at others beneath the surface and check in on how they are really doing.

I know I am especially guilty of coming up with cute, comical, glib ways of responding when I am asked “How are you?”  I wear the “mask” all too often.   During the traditional church “greeting” ceremony of shaking hands or hugging during the service, the game seems to be to see how many hands we can shake.  Maybe we should shake fewer hands and take time to build relationships that allow us to share more deeply… and become true friends?  A lot of people need help, but don’t ask for it; including myself sometimes.

All too often in prayer circle situations our friends and fellow congregants will share by asking for prayer for a relative or friend of theirs.  Maybe we should ask them a second question like “What do you need?” and then take the time needed to wait for a meaningful answer.

Point to ponder

What might happen if we answer honestly when friends ask how we are doing?

How might you help someone by asking “R U OK”?

During your quiet time, does Jesus ask “How are you?”

R U OK?                                                                                 December 15, 2015    

Yosef   a.k.a.  Joe Brusherd,