I read in a Book about a man who was on a business trip. Along the way, he crossed the path of some robbers, who robbed him, beat him, and left him for dead. He didn’t know how long he lay on the side of the road before he heard someone coming.
He hoped whoever was coming would stop and help him, for he desperately needed help.
But the person did not stop. In fact, they barely slowed down, and the injured man listened to the sound of help disappearing down the road.
Soon another traveler approached, and hope came alive again. He thought surely this person would help him, at least give him some medical aid, maybe a little water.
The second traveler approached the injured man, but looking him over, suddenly said “I can’t help you” and left. Again, the sound of hope fading away was all the injured man heard.
Almost resigned to his fate, and letting go of what little hope he had left, the man was surprised when a third man, seeing the man lying on the side of the road, came immediately to the injured man, and began to treat his wounds and apply first aid. Then he loaded him up and took him to the next town, got him a room, and knowing the inn keeper, left enough money to pay for room and board until the man was able to travel. Furthermore, he promised the inn keeper he would check the next time he came through town and settle up any additional cost for keeping and caring for the injured traveler.
The remarkable thing about this story is the injured man and the one who helped him were from completely different parts of the world, where under “normal” circumstances they would not have given each other the time of day. Yet in dire circumstances they both learned something about themselves.
There is a side of being human that transcends race, culture, class, society, and all those “ideas” we use to justify our place in the world. We camouflage our spirits with things that are born of this world instead of adorning it with things born in Heavenly Places, and that makes us afraid to admit that Human Beings are all of one spirit, and that spirit is born of God.
When we accept this and admit this to ourselves, then we gain a completely new perspective, and compassion, and love, and caring gain an enduring commitment that can truly change the world around us.
Jesus was asked what is the greatest commandment?
37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment.
39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” (Book of Matthew v.22)
THE RIGHT RENDITION 