I noticed the man earlier, but I was in too much of a hurry to stop and pick him up. Besides, I was heading in the opposite direction and to be honest, he looked a little rough. On the way back to the office I noticed the man for a second time. He hadn't made it very far and I suddenly had a change of heart. I pulled over and opened the door. The man climbed in, shocked that someone had stopped for him. As we visited, I learned this man had walked all the way from a neighboring town and was on his way to a place not too far away. Our conversation was short, but I wondered what this man's story was. Would I ever run into him again? Did I miss an opportunity by not stopping earlier?Every time I see someone walking along the road or stuck in a car that has been broken down, I think about the story of the Good Samaritan. Sometimes I am the priest, in too big of a hurry, having more important things to do than to stop and offer a helping hand. Other times I think, "oh, they probably have a cell phone and have already called for help." Sometimes I make judgments and choose not to take a risk. Yet, occasionally I have a heart of compassion, and lend a hand.Now I am not advocating we all stop to pick up hitchhikers, but I do wonder if we have lost our hearts for compassion. Are we too busy running around trying to take care of our own needs, our own problems to realize those in need around us? Do we jump too quickly to making judgments, rather than giving generously to those we can help? Are we so far removed from the problems of others across the world that we change the channel, or try to dismiss the thought, saying "the problem is just too big for me to make any kind of difference?" When it comes to caring, we all have experienced blinders that have prevented us from sharing a heart of compassion with those in need.The world is full of hurting people, and our touch might be just what that person needs in order to experience healing in their life. We can make the Christmas story world changing once again by stopping to listen to God's promptings, take a risk, and to reach out and touch someone who is in need. A Heart of Compassion - Dec. 13thMade with Xara
I noticed the man earlier, but I was in too much of a hurry to stop and pick him up. Besides, I was heading in the opposite direction and
to be honest, he looked a little rough. On the way back to the office I noticed the man for a second time. He hadn't made it very far and
I suddenly had a change of heart. I pulled over and opened the door. The man climbed in, shocked that someone had stopped for him.
As we visited, I learned this man had walked all the way from a neighboring town and was on his way to a place not too far away. Our
conversation was short, but I wondered what this man's story was. Would I ever run into him again? Did I miss an opportunity by not
stopping earlier?
Every time I see someone walking along the road or stuck in a car that has been broken down, I think about the story of the Good
Samaritan. Sometimes I am the priest, in too big of a hurry, having more important things to do than to stop and offer a helping hand.
Other times I think, "oh, they probably have a cell phone and have already called for help." Sometimes I make judgments and choose not to take a risk. Yet,
occasionally I have a heart of compassion, and lend a hand.
Now I am not advocating we all stop to pick up hitchhikers, but I do wonder if we have lost our hearts for compassion. Are we too busy running around trying
to take care of our own needs, our own problems to realize those in need around us? Do we jump too quickly to making judgments, rather than giving
generously to those we can help? Are we so far removed from the problems of others across the world that we change the channel, or try to dismiss the
thought, saying "the problem is just too big for me to make any kind of difference?" When it comes to caring, we all have experienced blinders that have
prevented us from sharing a heart of compassion with those in need.
The world is full of hurting people, and our touch might be just what that person needs in order to experience healing in their life. We can make the
Christmas story world changing once again by stopping to listen to God's promptings, take a risk, and to reach out and touch someone who is in need.
A Heart of Compassion - Dec. 13th
Made with Xara
