Have you noticed that people have become hardened to the difficulties that others are walking through? I experienced this yesterday when the reaction that I would have expected, given the circumstances, just didn’t happen. Instead, it was a friendly response, but one where emotion and empathy seemed lost, and afterwards it really had me asking more questions.
This is a disturbing reality that we see in our world today. Where has the genuine concern for another person gone, and how do we get it back? Is it because we are flooded with so much catastrophic news of events happening across the globe that we have become desensitized to pain? Although there may not be much we can do for the person on the other side of the world, certainly we can demonstrate compassion when there is a needy individual standing right in front of us.
As my day wore on yesterday I continued to see evidence that people have turned a blind eye, but thankfully not everyone. In a doctor’s office, three strangers stepped up to help a woman who was loudly told that what she needed done that day would not be happening because she did not have enough money. As this very elderly woman started to walk out of the office three strangers decided that she would in fact have what she needed. They paid all the additional cost of her treatment out of their own pockets. My husband and I had the privilege of meeting all of the individuals a couple of hours later as we all waited to be seen by the doctors. Believers became connected by the act of kindness that they displayed for another human being in need. Even second hand it was a blessing to us as we listened.
As I was sharing my day with a friend, she told me that in her opinion people are just overwhelmed by the bad news that surrounds them daily. I do agree! When so much disturbing news abounds I think that we may safely say that people have become accustomed to self- preservation.
For believers, we have the opportunity to rise above any offense and extend grace in all situations, and when we do this I know we can literally change the atmosphere. I have to believe that when those people stood up to help a woman in need, every eye in that room was on them, and every ear was tuned into all that was spoken!
Luke 10:30 CSB Jesus took up the question and said; “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho and fell into the hands of robbers. They stripped him, beat him up, and fled, leaving him half dead.”
Luke 10:33-35 CSB But a Samaritan on his journey come up to him, and when he saw the man, he had compassion. He went over to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on olive oil and wine. Then he put him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. The next day he took out two denarii, gave then to the innkeeper, and said, ‘Take care of him. When I come back I’ll reimburse you for whatever extra you spend.’
Luke 10:36-37 CSB “Which of these three do you think proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of the robbers? “The one who showed mercy to him,” he said. Then Jesus told him, “Go and do the same.”