I have found there are three general ways to respond to news from a friend. There is the, "Oh, that's nice," meaning I wasn't really listening, and I don't really care. There is the, "Oh, that's terrible! Well, that very same thing happened to me not too long ago," and proceed to hand off all of my baggage to the person who has too much baggage of her own to carry. Then there is the correct way, "Yes, I understand. How can I help?"
In an airport, train station or bus depot, as in life, there are strangers who carry their load to their destination. Some carry it in backpacks, others carry it in suitcases or messenger bags, and others drag it behind them in duffle bags with wheels. There are those who carry it well, those who carry it badly, and those who look for others to carry it for them. Only Jesus is strong enough to carry my load for me, not someone else who happened to pass my way.
Helping each other carry our loads makes the journey a little easier, a little sweeter, and I find we have arrived a little sooner than I had expected.
What good is it, my brethren, if someone claims to have faith but does not have good works? Can such a faith save him? Suppose a brother or sister is naked and lacks his or her daily food. If one of you says to such a person, "Go in peace; keep warm and eat well," but does not take care of that person's physical needs, what is the good of that? James 2: 14-16
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