“Sometimes it’s the people no one imagines anything of, who do the things no one can imagine.” (From The Imitation Game)
When I hear the story of “the Good Samaritan” in Luke 10:25-37, it reminds me of this quote. In Luke 10, verse 30, the story begins this way – “A man traveling from Jerusalem to Jericho was attacked by robbers, beaten, stripped and left for dead.” Sound similar to stories we may hear daily? How wounded so many individuals, and each of us, are in ways physically, emotionally, mentally, spiritually and otherwise.
Three travelers, at three different moments, then came upon this scene of the man in need of assistance. The first traveler was a Priest, a member of clergy whose job it was to perform, religious rites, sacrificial offerings and the ministry of the church. Verse 31 reads, “And when the priest saw the man, he passed by.” Why? Would I? Am I not about the ministry of Jesus and willing to be sacrificial with the offering of my time? My money? My inconvenience?
The second traveler was a Levite, a descendant of the tribe of Levi who is especially appointed to assist the priests at the temple or tabernacle. Verse 32 tells us, “So too, a Levite came to the place, saw the man, and passed by on the other side.” Why? Would I? No one can see me pass on through and hold me accountable to my calling as a person of faith and service?
The third traveler was a Samaritan, a person who practiced the faith of Judaism, but was despised by Jews. In Verse 33, we read, “But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was, and when he saw him, he took pity on him.” The Samaritan bandaged his wounds, used oil and wine to clean him, placed him on his donkey, took him to an inn, took care of him, used his own money to pay for the inn, asked the innkeeper to look after him AND told the innkeeper he would reimburse him for any expenses on his return. Why? I mean, really, that’s a great deal of sacrifice, money, time and inconvenience, especially for someone who doesn’t even like me.
I feel like the Priest and the Levite each asked himself, “What would happen if I were to stop to help this man lying in the road?” But the Samaritan asked the questions, “If I do NOT stop to help this man, what will become of him? If I do NOT stop to help this man, what will I become?” Do I have no compassion or empathy….. at all????
James Baldwin has a quote that has resonated with me since my participation in “Confronting Whiteness” studies, my life long journey towards anti-racism and as a member of Caldwell and ARCC. Baldwin says, “You cannot lynch me and keep me in ghettos without becoming something monstrous yourselves.”
As a white person, I placed myself in Luke’s story of the Samaritan, but I identify with the Priest and the Levite. Sure, I want to be the Samaritan, but that’s a great deal to ask, right? Do I just “want to want” to be the Samaritan? How much more convenient to just pass on by, but then what something monstrous have I just become because I ignored the need directly in front of me? Being the Samaritan takes work, always.
My friends, my family, this story is deep and rich with meaning, but it is also a story of the times we are living in. As a white person, my Black, Brown and Indigenous friends are struggling daily with white supremacy and racism. It is everywhere. It is in me. I do have a role in this and I am a participant. I must reflect, learn and hold a mirror to myself, lest I become something monstrous. I must also act like the Samaritan to truly SEE with eyes that SEE AND take action. I MUST Act with Compassion and Empathy. Not with eyes that SEE and continue on.
“Sometimes it’s the people no one imagines anything of, who do the things no one can imagine.”
Yes, I am but one person, like the Samaritan, who no one imagined anything of, but did the things no one could imagine. Imagine, please imagine, what we can do if we are willing to sacrifice and inconvenience ourselves toward healing and freedom for ALL. With God’s hand firmly within mine, I want to be the Samaritan.
What about You?