Where's the Good Samaritan?

Maybe you saw the video of the hit and run victim in Maryland last week. Hit by a car, the man lay in the street as pedestrians and cars passed by without stopping to help. I heard about this incident and was incredulous. Where were the Good Samaritan's who were willing to get involved, willing to get dirty, willing to take a risk? I found myself asking, "Is this the level that we as a society have sunk to?" As I considered these questions over the past few days, I came to the conclusion that, while this incident is a tragic indictment on where our society is headed, it is not indicative of how the level the majority of society has fallen to... yet! There still is time for us to rise above the pettiness and self-centeredness that seems to be the norm today. It is possible for us to transcend the isolation and the disconnection that so many people feel in our culture. To do so, though, we're going to have to make a conscience choice to live beyond ourselves and to live as Jesus did.

I know, I know! I can hear it already. We're busy. The pace of life is so fast. There doesn't seem to be enough time. We're barely making it through the day as it is, how is it that we're supposed to stop and lend a hand. Then there's the reality of people who take advantage. We all know stories of con-artists and nefarious people who are only looking to prey upon the weak, unsuspecting or the gullible. We've heard of people who give, only to find out that they've been ripped off, stolen from or somehow made to suffer because of their goodness. We grow cynical, jaded and decide that getting involved is just not worth the effort or the risk. I'm not dismissing any of that. I am challenging us to rise about it, though.

On our own, individually, we're not going to be able to fix the whole world. Let me suggest, though, that collectively, as the body of Christ, we can begin, right here in our own little spot on the earth, to rage against the tide of self-centered individualism and the indifference that is generated by our cynical me first spirit. I was recently told about a young family that is diligently working and making an effort to be good neighbors and members of the community. The husband/wife, father/mother, are not trying to take advantage of anyone's good will. They're not living off of others or letting the government be their source. They're a good, hardworking, upstanding young couple. Apparently the wife/mother had not been sleeping well and was feeling the worn out affects of sleepless nights. What young mother can't relate to that? Maybe it was a little worse than normal, I don't know. I do know that she was struggling. Members of their small, little church heard about the situation and decided that they would try and help. Maybe a new mattress was in order! So, that's what the church decided to do, take up an offering and buy the couple a larger/better mattress. Is this simple act of goodness going to end global hunger, reduce poverty, or eliminate suffering in the Sudan? No, probably not. But, it does restore one's hope and remind the rest of us that the church working in community can make a difference, even if it is giving a young wife and mother a better nights sleep.

Let's not allow the unfortunate example of a few overshadow the positive contribution made by others to jade us and keep us from taking the risk, getting involved and helping others. Let us redouble our efforts and commitment to Be Like Jesus, Live Like Jesus and Love Like Jesus!