Burdens

         Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. (Galatians 6:2)

You know the type. You can’t hold a 2-minute conversation with them without the conversation turning to their (current) obsession: the kids, grandkids, great grandkids, health, spouse, pet, job, current favorite sport, current book, calling, more recent sighting of a ____,… Whatever the topic is, it’s boring to you. You have your own list.

As difficult as those lists might be, there are also the people whose lists include matters of public policy, advocacy, or compassion. They have an agenda and they don’t seem to understand that their burdens aren’t the priority for everyone else. How could you not care about the well-being of these people, those animals, or the climate? How could you not drain your bank account or spend all your waking hours focused on the thing that has their focus? Never mind if you happen to be as intense about your own burdens.

But today’s verse says to bear one another’s burdens. That not only means listening, and showing at least some interest, but contributing where you can and when it’s real and the help is useful. Wisdom is needed. Prayer is always the first step. The second is caring and bearing in response to that prayer. Bearing doesn’t mean making the subject our obsession, but at least acknowledging that it matters and being willing to learn at least a little about it. After all, wouldn’t that be the least we would like someone else to do about our burdens?