Passing By

I recently did something that I'm not very proud of; I passed by on the other side, and it haunts me still. It was a situation I'm sure you're all familiar with. You're leaving some sort of retail facility with your purchase (in this case a movie I had just rented) when, as you exit, you're confronted by a person asking for your help, if you can spare some change, or if you'll make a donation to help their cause (in this case to help her fight her MS). But of course you don't have time (after all I had to get back and watch my movie), and so you quickly pass by on the other side completely absorbed in something that you suddenly found terribly interesting (oh look, my shoe laces are crooked. How did that happen?) Of course, we have very good reasons for doing this; we don't really know what they would do with our money, and we are called to be good stewards, so rather than be irresponsible, we'd rather pass by on the other side. We assume that these people really want to buy booze or drugs or something else unsavory, and our donation would just contribute to their self-destruction and wouldn't really help. You know, perhaps if we took the time to talk to these people who are asking for our help, maybe if we asked them questions we could find out if their need is genuine. Brilliant! As I read through the Gospels, I can't help but to notice the fact that Jesus always had time to talk to those who called out to Him, and I think because He took the time to talk them He knew whether or not they really wanted His help. When I read the story of the Good Samaritan, I'm sure that the people who passed by on the other side did so for legitimate reasons. I'm sure in their minds reasons such as not wanting to be defiled by what appeared to be a dead body seemed like perfectly good reasons not to help. We also have our own perfectly good reasons to pass by on the other side, which is not to say that our reasoning is wrong, but God wants better. He wants us to make that extra effort to connect with those in need, to extend a hand to help the helpless, to go the extra mile, perhaps literally. Our reasons for passing by may not be wrong, but that still doesn't make it right. This is what I've learned as I think back on my hurried exit from a store in order to watch a movie instead of taking a few extra minutes to be Jesus to someone in need. So don't be like me; don't pass by on the other side. Be like Jesus and take the time to connect, to talk, and to help if you can. Your time, attention and care may be more precious than you could ever imagine. Since my recent experience and the conviction and ache of compassion not given that I felt in my heart, I know that I will no longer pass by on the other side, and I hope you won't either as we strive to truly love our neighbors, all of our neighbors, as we love ourselves.

Luke 10:25-37 "On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. 'Teacher,' he asked, 'what must I do to inherit eternal life?' 'What is written in the Law?' he replied. 'How do you read it?' He answered: '"Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind"'; and, '"Love your neighbor as yourself."' 'You have answered correctly,' Jesus replied. 'Do this and you will live.' But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, 'And who is my neighbor?' In reply Jesus said: 'A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he fell into the hands of robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, took him to an inn and took care of him. The next day he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper. "Look after him," he said, "and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have." Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?' The expert in the law replied, 'The one who had mercy on him.' Jesus told him, 'Go and do likewise.'"

Johann "Yo" Snyder is the host of the Mid-day show at M88 radio, 88.3FM in Albuquerque, NM. He writes a monthly blog that takes some elements of current events and pop culture to illustrate spiritual points. The archives for these articles can be found at: http://www.m88.org/yo-duh.asp