On his destination home while walking down his street on a midsummers afternoon he notices a man far off by the pavement of his traditional church.
‘No it couldn’t be it must be a large object instead, a human could not be lying like that on the surface of where all are treading?’ He says to himself. Unconvinced by his quick assumptions he continues walking down the same direction he sees this thing on the pavement. He almost arrives while he starts to detect that it must be something left for trash, but no. He first sees sneakers then jogging wear then a bottle in one hand with the other crouched up like a baby. ‘Oh my’! He says to himself as he reaches the church entrance where the figure openly lies. He suddenly starts to reduce his pace and wonders at what he sees? ‘What! Is this a person lying down in this hot weather while all pass, dehydrated and weary and in front of the church?!’
He says to himself while still walking. Passing by the lying figure on the ground at the entrance of the church, he suddenly stops as he almost passes by the head. ‘He is human!’ He says to himself. ‘And he must be tired it is so hot, and why is he just lying there burnt-faced eyes-closed and numb.!’ He knows that on the opposite side of his street has a shopping centre, few markets and bus-stops with people watching on and waiting. While to his left there are few ATM’s and people standing by and passing along. He finally bows his head down at the figure in despair and then slowly walks away with respect to what he has just seen.
Why does this man feel moved by seeing a figure by lying the high-street pavement?
Or is he moved at all?
Did he take notice that people were passing and watching, and was waiting for a reaction from them to the sight he saw?
Should he have done something to what he saw?
Did he care? Should he have just passed by like everyone else he saw did?
Should he care? Is there something to care about?
Finally what did he show respect to, himself or the figure by the pavement?
Is he horrible?….
Maybe he feels helpless…
Hi,
Maybe he feels helpless? Or maybe he has heard that “good Samaritan parable” pounding in his heart, and mind for too long? Maybe he has heard it in himself for so long, and cannot deny the responsibility to another human being? Is there any point in using up street-space if one cannot go out of his way to help another? But who really needs the help the one who passes or the one on the ground? Yes, maybe he does feel helpless, in a helpless situation?
I think he did care.
I often feel paralysed.
His name was Mercy, from Italy who lives in the capital of England, London.(fiery furnace).
He is like the reflection of Paul’s conflict of mind:
Romans: 7:9
For what I am working out I do not know.
For what I wish, this I do not practice; but what
I hate is what I do. The Apostle Paul
And for him and all like, I pray:
Lamentations 3:49
“My very eye has been poured forth and will not keep still, so that there are no pauses.
Until the Lord looks down and sees from heaven.”
Lamentations 3:19
“Remember my affliction and my homeless state, the wormwood and the poisonous plant.
Without fail your soul will remember and bow low over me. This is what I shall bring back to my heart. That is why I shall show a waiting attitude.”
Amen.