“Are we blind to those around us?” That question has become some sort of moot, powerless, paradigm to “think of others.” But, seriously, do we manage our daily lives in such a way that we have actually come to the point where “going the second mile” is not appealing, not possible, or not in our calendar? Should we consciously think instead in terms of how we may have an impact on our community? Our neighbors? Those around us at our jobs? Literally everyone that God brings across our path?
Everyone is busy. Everyone is in a race to survive the next crazy day. Everyone reserves time or tries to reserve time for a break, some rest, some change. Everyone has family and friends to juggle schedules around.
But what about making a concerted effort from a heart of love, God’s love, to see afresh any way possible to make a difference? Helping someone else may be considered pandering or unwanted charity of some sort. Sometimes the independence of others or the instruction from the PC world to “fight through on your own” can cause us to hesitate to step in to offer a helping hand. But the Great Commandments are so very clear—to love God and to love our neighbor.
No matter what, it is worth the effort to try.
I heard recently of a true story that caused me both to shed tears and to re-examine my own selfish bent to make sure that my ducks are in a row for me. A young family, the subjects of my story, live in the Denver area in a neighborhood considered by many to be low income. The schools are poor and the housing is mostly small rentals. The mom and dad are busy keeping up with three small children, supporting Dad in his intense job, babysitting one little boy to earn extra cash, spending time with a missional community each week from their church, helping family and friends and neighbors with child care or yard needs, holding leadership positions in their local public school, traveling to see the neighbor boys play their soccer and football games, and simply juggling car trouble, appliances breaking down, and scraping to save to buy a home. From all appearances, the calendar could fill up rather quickly with no extra time.
However, even with all of this whirlwind “stuff of life,” the young family noticed a woman, whom we will name Meredith walking her daughter back and forth to school every day throughout the fall, winter, and spring. They would watch her from their small front window facing the sidewalk. Meredith trudged through snow and mud to take her daughter Alice to the small local school where the young family’s own daughter attended, too. In fact, their daughter became good friends with Alice who accompanied her mother every day. After Meredith drops Alice off at school, she apparently rides a train to downtown Denver, picks up a baby that she cares for during the day, and returns the child downtown in the evening after picking up her daughter Alice from school.
This young family decided to visit with Meredith in her home. They wanted to offer to drive Alice to school in the bad weather, throughout the winter, so that Meredith did not have to make that trek every day. They knew that she might be hesitant to let them do so, so they invited her to their home to become more familiar with them and their family. Of course, the two daughters were delighted to visit in each other’s homes. Meredith had been brought up to depend on no one, so this couple wanted to be sensitive to her desires. But eventually, she told them that their offer to drive Alice in bad weather was most generous. In fact, the couple ended up driving their daughter and Alice most of the time to school after all. They felt strongly that she could use this extra help.
Out of this heart-directed effort to help Meredith, friendships have been forged, life is a bit easier for this young woman, Meredith has given her life to Christ, and this young family has make an impact for Christ. Why did this story touch me deeply? Meredith is blind.
