Friends, when’s the last time you checked in on your loved ones?

No, I mean really checked in!

I’d forgotten the importance of this great big interwoven web of creation until this week when in one day(!) I had four people, from widely varying aspects of my life, ask me how I was doing.

And more importantly, after I had issued the perfunctory and very Midwest-esque response of “Great! Doing fine!” to each of them, they asked again, “No, how are you really doing?”

They were gracious about it, but they didn’t let me off the hook with a platitude. Each in their very own way shared that they were concerned about my being, whether it was mentally, spiritually or physically.

And you know what? … I needed each of them to ask because of the various roles they play in my life: a couple of pastoral colleagues, a caring friend and a family member. Each knew me well enough to ask about a very specific piece of my life? And that was critical.

How’s your prayer life? Are you getting enough sleep? How are you doing on your goal to move more? Are you delegating where you can? … At least a dozen very specific questions that dug for deeper answers than I was initially willing to give up. … Because they care.

More importantly, the timing couldn’t have been better. Because it’s been a tough go for a while, if I’m honest.

Lots of personal losses in a short period of time; a pretty heavy atmosphere at work and in the contexts where I serve; carrying the weight of worry and anxiety and fear for a lot of other people. Deadlines and expectations and so many meetings that my calendar generally looks like a blackout bingo card. … It all adds up and begins to take its toll, right?

But thankfully there were four people who cared enough to openly give me the chance to offload some of that weighiness. And I am grateful.

You see, that is the importance of recognizing that we are part of one universal creation. There is a web that connects us all, and when one of us isn’t doing well … well it impacts everyone.

Christians would call this being the Body of Christ together. Other faiths likely have a different term. And still others may just call this being a village together. What you call it is inconsequential, but how you live it is a matter of vital importance.

Americans currently are experiencing a loneliness crisis, and quite frankly it is killing us, figuratively and quite literally.

Friends, check in on those closest to you, to be sure, but I’d encourage you to offer that care to others too. After all, Jesus spent most of the gospels wondering about just being kind to people.

That seems a pretty good role model to emulate. Amen.

Devlyn Brooks is the CEO of Churches United in Moorhead, Minn., and an ordained pastor in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America serving Faith Lutheran Church in Wolverton, Minn. He blogs about faith at findingfaithin.com, and can be reached at devlynbrooks@gmail.com.