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The high road and the ditch

A column by Jim Taylor
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For centuries, preachers have used Jesus香蕉视频直播 parable of the Good Samaritan to suggest:

  1. We should not despise or disparage other races or religions because it was an 香蕉视频直播渙utsider香蕉视频直播 who rendered help.
  2. We should emulate that 香蕉视频直播渙utsider香蕉视频直播 and offer help to the victims of today香蕉视频直播檚 world 香蕉视频直播 the poor, the disadvantaged, the unemployed, the widows and orphans香蕉视频直播

Both options assume that we 香蕉视频直播 whoever or whatever 香蕉视频直播淲e香蕉视频直播 are 香蕉视频直播 have power. 香蕉视频直播淲e香蕉视频直播 have resources. 香蕉视频直播淲e香蕉视频直播 have money. 香蕉视频直播淭hey香蕉视频直播 don香蕉视频直播檛.

            Diana Butler-Bass admitted she thought of herself as one of the fortunate ones who help others. Then she tripped on a crosswalk. On her Sub-Stack page, she wrote, 香蕉视频直播淚 landed spread-eagle in the crosswalk. My purse flew one direction, my glasses another. Dazed, I saw that the crosswalk signal was about to change. I couldn香蕉视频直播檛 get out of the road before the light turned green. I started to cry, searched for my glasses, and hoped for help.

            香蕉视频直播淎 car stopped, and a woman opened the driver香蕉视频直播檚 door. I felt relieved 香蕉视频直播 someone was going to assist me. Instead of helping, however, she began to yell at me: 香蕉视频直播榃hat香蕉视频直播檚 wrong with you? Get up! You香蕉视频直播檙e blocking traffic!香蕉视频直播

            香蕉视频直播淲hen I didn香蕉视频直播檛 answer, she shouted, 香蕉视频直播楢re you deaf?香蕉视频直播 and she leaned on her car horn. I crawled across the street to the corner. 香蕉视频直播業diot!香蕉视频直播 she shouted as she drove away.香蕉视频直播

            香蕉视频直播淥ccasionally,香蕉视频直播 Butler-Bass concluded, 香蕉视频直播測ou get to be the Samaritan. But sometimes you香蕉视频直播檙e in the ditch.香蕉视频直播

            Christine preached about the Good Samaritan that same Sunday in her home congregation in Placerville, CA. Then she invited members of the congregation to tell their stories of Good Samaritan experiences.

            They lined up in the aisle to share their stories. They were so eager, Christine eventually had to cut the procession off.

            A few factors leapt out at me.

            The first thing that struck me was roles. Very few portrayed themselves as the Good Samaritan. Mostly, they saw themselves, like Diana Butler-Bass, as the victim. Unlike her, though, they did receive help from strangers.

            The second thing that struck me was how many of the stories involved cars. (Perhaps that focus was influenced by the original tale taking place on a road.) Over and over, the story tellers began, 香蕉视频直播淚 skidded on the road 香蕉视频直播ο憬妒悠抵辈 香蕉视频直播淚 had an accident香蕉视频直播ο憬妒悠抵辈 香蕉视频直播淢y car broke down香蕉视频直播ο憬妒悠抵辈 香蕉视频直播淚 ran out of gas香蕉视频直播ο憬妒悠抵辈 And a total stranger provided a can of gas, a blanket, a tow rope香蕉视频直播.

            It had not dawned on me 香蕉视频直播 despite being a 香蕉视频直播渃ar guy香蕉视频直播 since my teenage years 香蕉视频直播 the extent to which cars have become part of our culture. It香蕉视频直播檚 as if cars have become a second skin that we live in. Or that are almost human characters in our lives.

            The most significant exception to these stories came from a man who said he carried $20 bills in his pocket to hand out to people in need.

            On this day he encountered a veteran holding a sign asking for help. He handed over the $20. Then sat down beside the veteran and said, 香蕉视频直播淭ell me your story.香蕉视频直播

            It seemed to Christine that his act of intentional listening 香蕉视频直播 like getting down in the ditch with the victim -- might have provided more healing than any financial donation could.