Thanks Connor…

Okay, more than five things about me, only five of which are actually true:

1. I had/have Lyme Disease.
2. Once I knocked on Bruce Springsteen’s house and talked to his maid.
3. I once got in trouble with the Dean because we incited chaos at a school assembly. I played a Metallica song and some of us stage-dove.
4. In high school, I played the Clarinet. A white one.
5. I’m a published pencil sketch artist.
6. When I was a kid, I always wished for a remote-controlled airplane when blowing out birthday candles and throwing pennies in fountains.
7. I beat Contra without using the code.
8. I worked road crew on the highway near Death Valley one summer.

Care to guess which are true?

Christine and Jed: tag, you’re it.

The Good Neighbor

Continued:

But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him.
Luke 10:33

Samaritans were the scum of the earth to your average Jew. The dirty rotten scoundrels had mixed in with Jewish blood after the Jews were scattered by Babylonian armies. Sure, you can understand the hypocrisy of a rich priest (or his minions), but crowning a Samaritan as the hero in the story is a little hard to swallow.

So, who is the modern Samaritan to you? Those no-good, unclean stereotypical images that aren’t capable of doing good? Atheists? Liberals? An extremist Muslim? A gay person? Wouldn’t it be interesting to hear an allegorical story in General Conference that ended with our near-dead traveler being saved by a gay couple, after being overlooked by a high-councilman and a bishop?

Who is our neighbor?

He Had Compassion

Pay for this gentleman’s troubles and be on your way. Simple. Problem solved. You’ve done your good deed. That’s not what the Samaritan does: he has compassion. I think this kind of giving is the only kind pure enough to solve the social ills we deal with globally.

What did the Good Samaritan do differently? Everything! He didn’t treat his fellow man like a problem, but rather as a human being, engaging him as a person. The Good Samaritan didn’t simply toss the robbery victim some money and proceed blithely on his way. Instead, he did the much more “uncomfortable” task of providing for the person’s needs as if they were his own, as he “took him to an inn and took care of him.”
Jordan Ballor, Action Institute

This is where the real work happens: the Samaritan stays with this man until the solution has been found and the problem has been solved. The care provided is perfectly tailored, and the response is warm and human. I don’t think we can spread out our cash and expect it to solve the ills of the world—even if that money is given to a charity you trust. Even if you give it to the Church. We need to get involved at a personal level somewhere.

Conclusion

Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves? And he said, He that shewed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise.
Luke 10:36-37

I’m going to try a little harder to help more. Just yesterday I subconsciously refused help to someone based on their appearance and manner, and I kicked myself the rest of the day because of it.

Wherever these lost sheep may be, a necessary ingredient for helping is empathy… Meaningful help can never be given without empathy for the recipient… One who really understands and practices empathy doesn’t solve another’s problems, doesn’t argue, doesn’t top his story, make accusations, or take away free agency. He merely helps the person build his self-reliance and self-image so he can try to find his own solutions.
Marvin J. Ashton

Just in case you’re going to try a little harder too, I gathered some local links (because I think you can make the biggest difference locally). Even if you’re not from Utah, hopefully these listings give you some ideas for hunting for things to do where you live.

• Utah.gov: Help Your Neighbor
• Utah 4H Volunteer Opportunities
• Utah County Online: Volunteer Opportunities
• Volunteer Utah
• VolunteerMatch: Utah Results
• JustGive.org: How to Help the Homeless
• Big Brothers Big Sisters of Utah
• United Way of Utah County
• Department Of Volunteer Efforts

Continued:

And Jesus answering said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side.
Luke 10: 30-31

Apparently quite a few priests were living in Jericho, and they made this trek in order to fulfill their assignments at the temple in Jerusalem. Now, as we all know, this poor priest is perfectly justified. One can clearly see his reasons.

First, since many priests were well off, he was probably riding a horse. The poor walked. For the priest to break though well establish social norms would be just that—unheard of. Besides, there’s also the practical matter of needing to get down from the horse mid journey.

Finally, any sort of interaction with a gentile was to be avoided at all costs, especially if the man was already dead. Even touching the man (or getting near a dead person) would cost the priest his ability to serve in the house of God. Not only that, but the cleansing process would take up all sorts of precious time. Time that could be spent doing good.

Maybe someone else will help out. Sure. Someone else will come along and help him.

And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side.
Luke 10:32

Levites assisted priests in the temple, so the horrible inconveniences of helping this poor man are the same for the Levite.

I mean, if the priest didn’t maybe he shouldn’t either.

Even worse, what if someone comes along and thinks he did it?