| Who Cares? - article by Joel Hempel
You do! I know. A few weeks ago, I had cancer removed from my nose. Basal cell cancer is the least threatening, the doctor assured me. I believed her. On the other hand, I was nervous. I had enough ego left that I did not want a deformed nose. Six hours later, after six rounds of what is called Mohs surgery and skin grafting, I now have a nose on the mend. Thank you, God. Thank you Dr. Laura Council. For most of my ministry career, I taught Spiritual Care to professional and lay ministers and seminarians. I know how to teach and give spiritual care. I am not as practiced at receiving spiritual care. But many of you have helped me become more practiced. It’s amazing how a phone call, text message, email, get-well card, transportation from here to there, a bouquet of flowers, fresh homemade bread, or a sincere How are you? lifts a person’s spirits. It was heartwarming and healing that someone took the time to connect and let me know they cared and were praying for me. I’m sharing my story to affirm those who expressed concern and prayed for me. However, the last thing I want is for this article to stir up guilt in someone who did not reach out to me. You probably did not know or may have thought such surgery was minor and no big deal. I have had similar thoughts. Over the years, I have also had many nudges (I believe from the Spirit) to let someone know I cared about them and failed to follow through with it. Most importantly, though, I want to acknowledge what many of you have done and will do for others in the future. It matters! Kindness and thoughtfulness matter! Some of you naturally reach out and care for others. It’s one of your gifts. Others of us have to be more intentional. Who else cares besides us? God cares! The inspiration to care for others comes from God! We love because [God] first loved us (1 John 4:19). The fast-approaching Christmas season emphasizes how God loved us and what he modeled. God sent his Son on a mission to earth whose sole purpose was to care for us, to give his life for us on the cross, and to show us how to care for others. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort we receive from God (2 Corinthians 1:3-4) Thank you for caring! | 
