“…a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him.” (Luke 10:33b)
How often do we pass by those in need without a second thought? As a resident in one of Charlotte’s poorest communities, I’ve become a bit desensitized to the homeless, the poor, the prostitutes that I pass every day. Recently, God brought a lady to my car – literally – where she stood outside my window and yelled at me to help her. She’d been living outside of an apartment building for a while, and we’ve been watching her over the last few months construct a domicile out of cardboard, blankets, and plywood. In all honesty, my family watched her antics and building ventures with curiosity, but not much care or concern. Yes, it sounds shameful to write it down, but I’m being transparent here. I just didn’t think about her that much.
On that morning, something about this woman yelling at me for help, something about making eye contact with her on that day suddenly changed my perspective. We’re probably about the same age but our lives and choices and circumstances have been so different, and now here we both were in the same space, separated by just a van window. With her standing there right next to me, I suddenly saw her. Like really saw her as a fellow human being, not just an object of curiosity. And God moved me to compassion and prayer and yes, grief, for her.
This woman has disappeared now from the neighborhood and her makeshift home was torn down. I know in reality that I am not equipped to help someone in her circumstances find meaningful change…but I also recognize that I use that as an excuse to not be concerned for the need around me. I want to instead let that brief interaction move me to really care, to recognize the Imago Dei in the others I see standing around, sleeping on sidewalks, begging for money. I want to actively look for how to love them in practical ways. What does that mean? I don’t know yet. I’m praying and researching ways to practically care. And I’m holding to what I do know, that God has called us to have compassionate hearts towards those who are in need who are different than us, who we might even see as nuisances “invading our territory”!
I am challenged by the fact that the Samaritan was himself the social outsider, who yet chose to have pity on the one who would normally oppress him. He crossed barriers and was unafraid to take action. Yet those in the same social class as the wounded man, those who were the religious leaders and thinkers, just passed by without letting themselves be moved to compassion for one of their own. Such a relevant story, and yet how rarely I put it into practice.
As we enter this new season of sewing classes and neighborhood service, I’m praying for all of those in serving in our program that God would help us see those around us with grace, compassions and love, especially in this time of intense division. May we be those who reflect Christ’s sacrificial love as we go the extra mile to provide care in whatever way God enables us to serve.