One thing we have plenty of here is ... time! Having said that the time of having time to spare is diminishing.
This is really a story about Sean. Sean is using his time to deepen his understanding of the mysteries of Christ and learn more about authentic Christian community that works in city environments. So he reads and listens to podcasts. After listening to one podcast titled Whose neighbour am I? (the link is below should you be curious) he asked me to take 30mins to listen to it as well.
Warning only listen if you are prepared to act on what you hear!!!
If you are Christian or have had Christian associations then you will know the parable well. (Luke 10:25-37) If you are anything like me when I hear these parables again and again, my brain switches off and says "I've heard that story before". However, these parables are not just nice stories they are lessons that we are supposed to discover the meaning of and then implement in our everyday lives. Jesus commands at the end " Go and do likewise". If I read and don't apply the lesson can I really be a disciple of Jesus?The sermon is convicting - and the speaker makes it so simple it is hard to escape the undeniable truth the parable presents. Don't worry it doesn't challenge any of your doctrines; biblical or man made. It challenges far more than that - Am I really a Christian? If yes, then is that fruit demonstrated in more than my words but in my actions.
Sean and I discussed at length what that meant for us here. We had some idea's and have began to implement them. However, the test for Sean came a few days later ...
God often does that to us ... "When you heard it and you were convicted did you really mean it? Did it change you?" "Let's see ..."
Sean and Corey had to go down town to pick up our ACR Cards (visas), and Sean loves getting into the thick of real Filipino life so after picking up the cards instead of getting a Taxi straight back they (Sean) decided to walk around. As they walked to the shopping mall Sean noticed a small boy playing on the side of the road in the dirt. As he got closer he noticed the boys leg had a wound which was filthy and covered in pus. "Who is my neighbour?" It is in that split second you make a decision - walk on or do something. To cut quite a long story short, with no parents around it is probably not good for a white guy to pick up a kid and walk off with him. However another lady helped Sean with language issues and pointed him to a hospital right across the road. So off they went. Once you start you can't stop. Boy needed to see a surgeon but is too dirty, so off they go to buy clothes for a 10 year old. Wait for welfare to find parents to get consent for surgery. Will you pay sir?
Eventually, Sean and Corey arrive home sharing their adventure. Boy with parents will meet surgeon at 11am, come back in the morning to pay. Next day we wait for the call. The hospital calls, "Parents were here but didn't wait for surgeon and have left." Story ends. I guess at least the boy has new clean clothes and his wound was cleaned.
What would I have done? Would I have crossed to the other side of the road? Would I have pretended not to have seen him and kept walking? Would I excuse my lack of action by saying " I can't help every child I see" or "I'm in a hurry" or "What about his parents don't they care about him"? We only have a split second to make that decision and it is so easy to say I would have stopped and helped him but will I when the situation arises?
It may be someone who needs an ear, or food, or clothes or a hug. It might be someone I know or a total stranger. Will I recognise the need and then will I act?
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