Sunday, 03 June 2007
The Good Samaritan
This morning's sermon gave me a lot to think about. It was based on the Parable of the Good Samaritan and was about what stops us from acting on our compassion for others.
Many of us have been in a situation where we've seen someone in pain/despair/confusion, and yet, for some reason or another, we've ignored the urge to help and walked away. Why?
Today's preacher knew exactly what causes me to falter in such situations. He said there are three reasons why the priest and the Levite walked on and failed to act on the compassion that they quite probably felt.
These reasons are: fear, time and our own pain. For me, at least, this is true. I worry that I, too, might end up in trouble, or that to get involved will mean doing more than I feel ready for. I also worry about whether stopping to help will make me late or take up more time than I am willing to offer. And suffering and pain that I feel or once felt in the past can make me loathe to get involved in other people's problems.
The real problem is that all three of these reasons can be summed up in one word: selfishness. I hesitate to offer assistance to others when I am too preoccupied with myself and things that concern me. I might feel sorry for the person in need, but I think more about myself than I do about that person.
I guess I'm still trying to hold on to some control over my life. This is ridiculous: none of us can possibly have complete control over our own lives. This became somewhat painfully clear to myself last month. In fact, last month, due to circumstances beyond my control, I was forced into a position where I had to put control over what happened to me into the hands of complete strangers. If I had not done so, things could potentially have been a lot worse.
So here's a challenge to myself and anyone else who wants to take it up. I'm going to try to stop thinking/worrying about myself, and relinquish the reins over what happens in my life. If I spot someone in need, I am going to try to put their need above whatever fancy or supposed need of my own that I happen to then be working on. I am going to start seeking out more ways to help others, and stop trying so hard to help myself. I am going to try to keep my eyes open to what is going on around me, rather than concentrating so hard on my own aims.
My biggest problem is fear. I worry all the time. But I want to overcome that, and I know what I have to do.
"There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love." 1 John 4:18
