As the Empire attacks the Rebels on Hoth in ESB, Han enters the command center on Hoth and asks Princess Leia if she is alright.
She is surprised to see Han and snaps back, “Why are you still here?”
Han replies that he heard the command center had been hit and there is something implied but not spoken. That thing is that Han cares for Leia and is concerned.
Leia tells him, “You got your clearance to leave.”
The implied caring comes to the surface when Han states, “Don’t worry. I’ll leave. First I’m going to get you to your ship.”
With that, Han helps Leia escape the Imperial attack onboard the Falcon.
We Are Called To Care For One Another
Paul tells the church in Galatia, “Brothers [and sisters], if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ” (Galatians 6:1-2).
We are to help our friends (and others) when they are caught in a sin and help carry them, if they listen and repent. If not, we are to follow what Jesus told us in Matthew 18:15-18 about a brother (fellow believer) that sins against us.
As Paul talks about bearing one another’s burdens, we see the early church in Acts 2:44-45 taking care of the physical needs of fellow believers.
Luke, the author of Acts, tells us “And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need.”
- What this can look like:
- Watch a couple’s children so that they could go out on a date and build up their marriage
- Help our with yard work
- Invite someone who lives alone over for dinner
- Write kind but anonymous note
- Pick up groceries for someone who has difficulties getting out
- Text a compliment to a fellow church member
- Hold the door open for someone
- Send a note of thank to your ministerial staff (custodians, secretaries, youth paster, music paster, senior pastor, etc.)
- Compliment another parent on their child’s behavior
- Smile at 20 people
- Make sandwiches and distribute to the homeless in your area
- Donate flowers to a nursing home or homebound church member
- Write and send letters to first responders, teachers, soldiers
- Send Valentine’s Day cards to a widow or widower
There are literally thousands of ways we can help carry one another’s burdens.
How will we fulfill a burden today? Will we share our burden and accept help today?
