I was raised to respect my elders. Did not matter how elder they were, what they were doing, or why. By the very virtue of my thinking they were older, they were to be respected. If they were crossing the street, I was to offer my elbow. If they did not take it, that was their business, but by God and all that is holy, I was to make it available. And if I saw some one carrying something, I better off to take part of the load. It did not matter if I knew them or not. I was to offer and be respectful, and Lord knows I try.
I guess this is why I was so upset tonight when a lady friend of mine who lives in Colorado Springs called me to share a story that happened to her today. Over the weekend, she and her daughter had cleaned the yard and had many bags of debris in big trash bags. This woman is 84 or 85 years old. A retired minister who has spent her life helping people. She lives on San Miguel Street which is a quiet residential area. She knew the trash man was coming tomorrow so she had to get the bags and the trash cart out to the street this evening. She has a bad knee so she has trouble walking any way and moving bags of debris is not a light job. She got the cart out alright and began dragging the bags. They were heavy and cumbersome, but she persevered. Halfway through her endeavor, several young men came out of the house across the street. They stood on the curb visiting and looking her way occasionally. Never once did any one of them offer to help. One of them got in his truck and drove away. The two remaining continued to talk and glance her way. Then they parted company and the one who lived there went into the house and closed the door.
She called me to tell me about this. I was amazed that anyone could watch an old woman struggle and not offer assistance. The one man is a neighbor of hers! Have we become so complacent that other peoples burdens mean nothing to us? What has our world come to that this is happening? I assured her that had I been there, I would have helped her. I have raised 6 kids and not a one of them would ever not come to the aid of someone in need.
God teaches us to love our neighbor and it that context it means love everybody, but when you see an older person struggling and that person lives across the street from you, it really is your neighbor. I think God wants us to help every body. I just wonder who raised those men? I wonder if their mother needed help if anyone would help her?
As you have done this to the least of these my brethren, you have done it to me.
Or not.
I guess this is why I was so upset tonight when a lady friend of mine who lives in Colorado Springs called me to share a story that happened to her today. Over the weekend, she and her daughter had cleaned the yard and had many bags of debris in big trash bags. This woman is 84 or 85 years old. A retired minister who has spent her life helping people. She lives on San Miguel Street which is a quiet residential area. She knew the trash man was coming tomorrow so she had to get the bags and the trash cart out to the street this evening. She has a bad knee so she has trouble walking any way and moving bags of debris is not a light job. She got the cart out alright and began dragging the bags. They were heavy and cumbersome, but she persevered. Halfway through her endeavor, several young men came out of the house across the street. They stood on the curb visiting and looking her way occasionally. Never once did any one of them offer to help. One of them got in his truck and drove away. The two remaining continued to talk and glance her way. Then they parted company and the one who lived there went into the house and closed the door.
She called me to tell me about this. I was amazed that anyone could watch an old woman struggle and not offer assistance. The one man is a neighbor of hers! Have we become so complacent that other peoples burdens mean nothing to us? What has our world come to that this is happening? I assured her that had I been there, I would have helped her. I have raised 6 kids and not a one of them would ever not come to the aid of someone in need.
God teaches us to love our neighbor and it that context it means love everybody, but when you see an older person struggling and that person lives across the street from you, it really is your neighbor. I think God wants us to help every body. I just wonder who raised those men? I wonder if their mother needed help if anyone would help her?
As you have done this to the least of these my brethren, you have done it to me.
Or not.
