We were leading Sunday School and heading out with our class of four and five-year olds to the big classroom when I saw him. He was lying on the ground, on his back. Then the children saw him, gathered around him and yelled: "He's hurt! Let's help him!" They got it! My crazy husband had left the room first and decided the Good Samaritan parable would sink in further through an object lesson, and of course, he was just the one to be, well….. the object. Not that he was really beaten and left for dead, having all his money stolen. Not that he was undesirable to be seen with, especially if you were "important" or a different class. Not that he smelled bad, which probably was the case if one was left on a desert trail. Still, they got it. They wanted to help someone who needed it just be cause, well, he needed it. So, that was my Sunday.
Then, my Thursday came. And guess who gave the next object lesson? Her name was Maria. She was an older lady, outside in the hot sun and had way too many shopping bags to carry. She asked me for a ride. I was busy vacuuming my car. I was skeptical. I had a schedule. So, initially, I said no. Yep, the chaplain said no. But, my heart was troubled and felt God pushing me to catch up with her.
I called out to Maria and offered her a ride. I caved, apologized to her (and to God). This is where the lesson gets good. Well, I should say messy. After an almost shoving match to get all her bags into the car, I drove her to her apartment complex. This next lesson wasn't much fun to learn.
Not knowing her apartment complex, I stopped just inside the driveway to let her off, but unfortunately, I blocked the gate. The gate came flying open and missed my car by a thin hair. This was going on all the while dear Maria was trying to get her bags out of the car. Great, my car gets hit while doing a good deed. Let's just say the less-than-friendly-neighbor driving out of the complex did not hesitate to eloquently explain to me (a.k.a. screaming) the error(s) of my ways.
It's no fun to get yelled at by a screaming lady or the apartment yardman, who joined in the fun by accusing me of a huge dent in the gate. I don't do well with eloquent discussions directed at me. Even when it was all over and I was safely home, it affected my spirit. I was hurt. I began to wonder again about the Sunday School lesson. I remembered the parable ended with Jesus asking the lawyer "Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?" I think it was very clear by the parable they are not only the semi-easy ones like my Maria encounter, but also the harder ones like Maria's eloquent speaking neighbors.
I get it, but the truth is, it's not so easy. I do want to love people. And it's not very impressive to only love easy people. I guess we could all benefit going back to Sunday School to learn important truths and see how they play out in real life. I sure needed to.
What about you? Are you challenged to love your neighbor? (Work associates? Family members? Facebook friends? Neighbors? Real life everyday people?) We know the lawyer was. Now you know I am. But, it's worth it to love, even if it's not easy to do so.
"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." Luke 10:27
Nancy Abbott is the Chaplain of the YMCA of Greater San Antonio.
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