Does Anybody Really Care

Novelist Thomas Wolfe once observed that "loneliness is the central and inevitable fact of human existence." Though I wouldn't go to that extreme, there is a lot of truth in his statement. Lonely times come when we need someone to talk to, to share a burden with, to get help from -- but no one seems to really care. Have you ever been there? A recent letter brought an example of someone who really cared.

A few years ago, Mrs. Iva Dodson of Van Buren, Ark., was returning home from an out-of-town trip when her car broke down. In November, dark had fallen quickly, and the weather was cold. Many people stopped, but they all moved on when they couldn't help. She and her little granddaughter were stranded, a lonely, frightful situation to be in.

Finally, a young man in a truck arrived and gave her some comfort by promising not to leave until she got help. He persisted with the problem, eventually concluding that her alternator was bad. He put a new battery in her car, and she was able to limp back home. Bringing her granddaughter to safety meant so much to her.

But the Good Samaritan never revealed his name. Still, she thanks God for him every day and wishes she could express her appreciation personally. There's no way he could ever know how much his help -- and her granddaughter's safety -- meant to her. Those who reach into our lives and touch an intense point of need have that kind of lasting impact. Here's another example.

My wife was exchanging pleasantries with the clerk at a checkout counter when something in the young woman's voice said, "I'm hurting." A little probing brought it out. Her grandmother was in the hospital -- near death they thought -- and she couldn't go to be with her. She could have gone the weekend before, but nobody had shared the need with her. Thus her hurt and distress. She felt abandoned by those closest to her.

After a few moments of sharing, the young lady revealed the root of so many hurtful situations. With an attitude of appreciation, she quietly confided, "You're the only one who has asked." Others could have, but none did.

Caring people leave a lasting imprint in our memories, and two others come to mind. When my dad was in the hospital in Crossett, Ark., a few years ago, Mr. Wade Tull visited him daily. Someone told me that Mr. Tull seldom missed a day without at least one mission of mercy down those hospital hallways. In a more recent hospital stay -- that time in Russellville, Ark. -- Mr. Lewis Billings proved the value of someone who really cares. His visits and practical deeds of service demonstrated a great concern for his friend of more than 40 years. These were unselfish men!

Does anybody really care? Perhaps a better question would be more personal: Do I really care? If I do, it will be obvious.

Copyright 1999 James McAlister

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