Variety: Luke 10v27
Love your neighbour as yourself. (Luke 10:27)
You’ve made it to the airport. The holiday was great, but now you need to be home with a big mug of Yorkshire tea, ASAP. But as you pass duty-free you hit chaos: no one’s boarding and they’re suffering in the heat and crush.
How would you respond? Anger, resignation, despair?
Devonshire mum Faye made a different choice. Stuck in a dense crowd at Corfu airport for over an hour, Faye noticed upset children and an unwell elderly woman. She went to find out what was happening and found a panicking lone staff member. Faye said she had a plan and was given the tannoy. She used her event management skills to organise eight flights of people before being cheered onto her own.
Maybe we’d also step up in a crisis. But what about the everyday moments?
If we’re able, do we let someone else get the seat on the bus – whether they need it or not? Do we offer a prayer when a colleague says they’re stressed? Do we leave our housemate the last portion of chilli?
According to CAF, in the UK we’re getting worse at helping others. I know I’ve missed many opportunities for kindness. Research from Stanford, interestingly called ‘The Good Samaritan’ experiment, found that hurrying hinders helping. That’s often true for me.
So how do we put the desire to ‘love our neighbour’ into action? Jesus’ Good Samaritan parable (Luke 10:25–37), beautifully reflected in Faye’s actions, gives us clear steps to follow:
1. Stop
Look up from your phone, remove your headphones. The Samaritan ‘took pity’ on the injured man. Faye was moved by those suffering in the crowd. When we’re present, we can empathise.
2. Find courage
The Samaritan and Faye had to be bold. In a society that prioritises ease, we need to get uncomfortable.
3. Use what you have
The Samaritan wasn’t a medic, but he patched up the injured man and found help. Faye recognised that her skills, though not in aviation, could be used. Don’t discount yourself.
4. Stick with it
The Samaritan made sure the man was fully recovered. Faye got not one, but eight flights off the ground. Challenging an unjust structure at work, reducing the company’s carbon footprint, or walking with your mate through his divorce aren’t quick fixes. But neither was Jesus’ sacrifice.
So, as you wake up to Yorkshire tea – or a matcha latte if you must – remember God might just want to use you to be someone’s ordinary hero today.
Kezia Martin