PASTOR DAVE’S MUSINGS FROM THE HEARTLAND

October 20, 2024

HURRICANE HELENE (Part II)

Neighbors

“Just then a lawyer stood up to test Jesus.  ‘Teacher,’ he said, ‘what must I do to inherit eternal life?’ He said to him, ‘What is written in the law?  What do you read there?’  He answered, ‘ You shall love the Lord you God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself.’  And He said to him, ‘You have given the right answer; do this, and you will live.”

                “But wanting to justify himself, he asked Jesus, ‘And who is my neighbor?’  Jesus replied, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell into the hands of robbers, who stripped him, beat him, and went away, leaving him half dead.  Now by chance a priest was going down that road; and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side.  So likewise a Levite when he came to the place and saw him, pass by on the other side.  But a Samaritan while traveling came near him; and when he saw him, he was moved with pity.  He went to him and bandaged his wounds, having poured oil and wine on them.  Then he put him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him.  The next day he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said, “Take care of him; and when I come back, I will repay you whatever more you spend.”  Which of these three, do you think, was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of the robbers?’  He said, ‘The one who showed him mercy.’  Jesus said to him, ‘Go and do likewise (Luke 10:25-37).’”

In the hours leading up to, during, and after both Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton there was not a story of a Priest or Levine passing by on the other side to be found.  Quite the contrary, there were many accounts of neighbor helping neighbor, one citizen coming to the aid of another citizen, one person endangering their own life to rescue another person in peril.  The advice of a former FEMA director, “You’re the fastest response for your neighbor,” was replicated over and over again.  When we had water in our lower-level March of 2018 it was our friends who come to our aide.

In Jesus’ Parable of the Good Samaritan both the priest and Levite were local, the Samaritan was a foreigner.  Nationally the response to the two hurricanes has been overwhelming.  All over our country collections of money, food goods and construction materials has been taking place.  People have been traveling to the affected areas to restore the infrastructure and helping with the clean-up.  National organizations like the Red Cross and Samaritans Purse have volunteers on site.  The stories of volunteers helping those who have lost everything have been inspiring.

On one of our trips to Israel Diane and I walked the lower half of the traditional setting for the Parable of the Good Samaritan.  It is a very rugged route with many twists and turns.  There are possible dangers around every corner.  I was glad that Diane and I did not have to walk it alone.  Our days under the sun might be compared to walking the road from Jerusalem to Jericho.  Hurricanes, tornadoes, and storms are a part of the landscape.  To successfully reach our destination it is important to have neighbors who will help us along the way.  Sometimes we become the neighbor to someone  else in need.

(Comments may be sent to davidh15503@embarqmail.com.)