Am I My Sister's Keeper?

Several years ago, I stopped at our neighborhood grocery store to grab a few things we needed.  I noticed as I was walking into the store there was a woman sitting at a picnic table right outside the store.  She was crying.  I walked right past her and went about my shopping.  When I came out of the store, she was still sitting there crying.  I loaded my groceries in the car, got in the car and drove away.  Later that night at bedtime, I laid there thinking about that woman and beating myself up.

Why did I not stop and check on the woman?  At the time of my life, I had some serious problems I was dealing with and did not need someone else’s problems.  Does that justify my inaction or make it ok?  Of course not.  Her problems may have made mine pale in comparison.  Plus, she was made in God’s image just like me.  I asked God to forgive me.  Me forgiving myself, that is another story.  I still think about that woman and pray that she is well.    

I could have taken the time to ask the woman if she was ok.  Only God knows how that conversation would have played out.  Would she have told me to mind my own business?  Would she have spilled her heart out and told me what was making her cry?   Would that conversation lead us to talk about Jesus or say a prayer together?

Since that episode, a bible verse that often pops in my brain is Hebrews 13:2  "Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some have unwittingly entertained angels.”  Some may believe that passage refers only to Old Testament times, or to specific events, like Abraham hosting three men in Genesis 18, who turn out to be divine visitors.  One being God himself and the other two being angels.

Even if that divine visitor phenomena does not happen today (we should not be so quick to dismiss that possibility), we have the teachings and examples of Jesus who calls us to care about other people, including strangers, or even our enemies.

Jesus tells the parable of the Good Samaritan that is recorded in Luke 10.  The priest and Levite walked on by and did nothing to help the wounded man.  It was the Samaritan, that the Jews despised, that rendered aid to the victim.  Jesus told that story to help us understand that our neighbor is anyone in need, regardless who that person is, and we should help them and show them mercy.

We are called to be a peculiar people.  We are to let our light shine and glorify Jesus every day, and every place, even on a trip to the grocery store.

Mark Townsley