Despite all the negative stuff we see on TV and in the papers, I am still convinced of the inherent goodness of people. I see too many examples of the willingness of people to help others to not believe in good Samaritans.
We use the term “good Samaritan” colloquially to mean someone who helps a person in need. The term derives from the parable, in Luke’s gospel, of a traveller (who may or may not be Jewish) who is beaten, robbed and left half dead along the road. In the story, a priest and then a Levite come by, but both avoid the man. Finally, a Samaritan comes by. Samaritans and Jews generally despised each other, but the Samaritan helps the injured man.
I recently had arthroscopic surgery on my right knee. No big deal, right? Lots of people have had this procedure. But it was a big deal because of what happened as a result of my being “laid up” for a few days.
So here’s a good Samaritan story for you.
As fate would have it, we had two significant snowfalls in the days immediately following my surgery. The first day, as I was sitting in my recliner icing my knee, I heard noises outside. I got my crutches and hobbled to the front window to see my good friend and golfing buddy David shoveling my driveway and walkway. This is the same guy who showed up uninvited years ago when I was repainting the inside of our house, carrying his drop cloths and brushes, and proceeded to spend a half day doing the “cutting-in” along the ceiling mouldings.
The next day, after an even bigger snowfall, David was back, but he couldn’t get my snowblower started. A young man, unknown to both of us, trudged up the driveway to offer his assistance and expertise with small engines. Meanwhile, my next-door neighbor Nate came over with his snowblower and cleaned up the driveway. All those random acts of kindness!
Here’s another example for you. One Saturday last fall, we went with two other couples for one of our customary hikes on the Ice Age Trail, the national scenic walking route that traces the path of the ancient glacier as it made its way across Wisconsin. That day, our walk commenced outside the little town of Albany, near New Glarus. When we stopped at a gas station/convenience store to use the restrooms before striking out on the trail, I noticed a peculiar smell and commented on it, but thought nothing of it.
So we made our way out to the trail and when we got out of the car, that same smell, but worse, was still with us and seemed to be coming from the right front wheel of our car. As we were all standing around, wondering what to do, a local farmer (Bob) — who had been spraying his field — drove over in his tractor to help. He said he was also a mechanic, so he crawled under the car and declared we had a locked brake.
He told us he had a friend, Sanford, who ran a part-time auto repair business in Albany, whom he recommended very highly. He called ahead and explained our problem. So we got back in the car and crept back to Albany and found S&M Auto in an old corner gas station.
It was Saturday and he wasn’t usually open, but Sanford agreed to repair the brake. We left the car there, went back to the trail, did our eight-mile hike, and when we went back to Albany in the late afternoon, the car was done. That day we had two good Samaritans watching out for us.
Interestingly, the very next day in church, the gospel reading was the section in Luke’s gospel about the Good Samaritan, and Father Mike’s homily was about doing acts of kindness for others. I felt like standing up and yelling “Hallelujah! Amen!”
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