Deep Care by Stewart Perry
There’s been recent criticism of the expression “thoughts and prayers” because it seems to have become a comment with little impact on the ones suffering, traumatised or in need. This is usually levelled at a public figure who’s commenting on something that’s happened but I think we all have become use to the expression and perhaps somewhat desensitised to it. I even hear people who have one the one hand say they don’t believe in any God still use the expression.
Who of us could not confess that we have, at times, used this expression when we’ve heard some bad news, and then not actually thought… or prayed… as if using the expression somehow absolves us from actually doing something and gives us permission to keep calm and carry on.
Is there a difference though between just using this expression and actually stopping and taking the time to think about and pray about what is going on in the world and the lives of others?
Could we pray that God would turn our thoughts and prayers into deep care?
What is deep care you ask? It’s an expression I started to use almost 20 years ago… The Bishop who ordained me, when he came into the Diocese had a “slogan” that went like this: “Deep change or slow death”. It was his challenge to the church that we couldn’t keep doing what we were doing otherwise there’d be further decline and ultimate death of church communities. While I agreed with him in principle, the actions and application of this slogan sometimes concerned me & so me being always a bit of a trouble maker came up with the response: “Deep change without deep care is quick death.”
It struck me that as I have been recently preaching about change, I haven’t ever preached about “Deep Care”. Talking to Eron at Burleigh and Mary-Anne about Palm Beach we all agreed that a season of “deep care” is timely for all our churches. If we experience deep care and understand we are better able to offer deep care and I think that open’s us and others up to deep change.
So what makes deep care distinctive?
Deep care says I see you… I turn towards you… and I will walk with you.
Deep care is much more than a fleeting thought or comment… it’s costly… it could mean we have to stop what we’re doing, go out of our way, re-arrange our busy schedules or even reallocate our resources.
Deep care is an offering we can give as a sign of gratitude for who God has given us in Christ Jesus.
In 2 Samuel there’s a story about King David who is going to offer a sacrifice to God but some well meaning person says they’ll organise it for him but he pushes back & says “I will not bring anything to God as an offering that has cost me nothing” (2 Samuel 24:18-25)
Deep care turns away from the value proposition of our age that we should get more out than we put in and doesn’t worry if we put more in than we eventually get out.
Deep care is the Samaritan who notices, attends and then comes back to check. (Luke 10:25-37)
Deep care is Boaz welcoming Ruth & Naomi into his household. (Book of Ruth)
Deep care is Phillip stopping to answer questions and explain to the Ethiopian what it is he’s reading and stays with him until he gets it. (Acts 8:26-40)
Deep care is Dorcas caring for the community in Joppa and Peter restoring her to life so her ministry could continue. (Acts 9:36-42)
The deepest care is the life, work, death and resurrection of Jesus.
Deep care runs throughout scripture… but does it run through today’s church… does it run through the lives of Jesus’ followers today?
Could we be brave enough to pray: Lord God, turn our thoughts and prayers into deep care.
With deep care,
Stewart