“Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?”The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.”

Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.” 
Luke 10:36-37

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“I’m leaving you with the responsibility of taking care of our fish, Nancy,” were Dave’s departing words as he left on a bike trip to Canada. 

Day 2, I noticed a floater. I ran out of the room. Day 4, all twelve were floaters or soon-to-be-goners. Day 5 I closed the door because I couldn’t stand the death scene as I looked down the hall. On Day 6, I contemplated removing them, but on Day 7, I thought Dave could handle that better than I could.

In our Scripture today, Jesus gives us specific instructions to love our neighbor as we love ourselves. He further illustrates his point using the story of the Good Samaritan who didn’t pass by on the road without attending to a person who was robbed and beaten. You know this passage—you love this truth. I also know this, but why do I look the other way when I see dead fish floating or people needing God’s healing touch?

It’s because I have learned to fear. It is easy to love a neighbor who brings you goodies and love daily, but it is more challenging to love a person with a different political sign than yours displayed in their yard. Yet, this is precisely what God asks us to do. 

He tells us to be compassionate and tenderhearted and love all people (Ephesians 4:32). In Isaiah, he says, “For I am the Lord your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, ‘Do not fear; I will help you (41:13).’” 

At a retreat at Camp Paradise this summer, I learned an important lesson. The Tarzan Tower (my words for it) was high, and the rope was almost too thick to grip. My arms looked and felt like jiggling jelly. The lifeguards asked me to leap off the platform, soar, and release. Jesus also implores me to take a leap in faith, and often, I am petrified! But on this day at camp, when I jumped, released my grip, and soared—refreshing water miraculously enveloped me. 

As I age, I often feel stuck in my ways. My closest friends are those who love Jesus Christ-not the tired, stressed bagger at the grocery store. But God asks me to help the bagger, and He also asks me to hold hands with fellow sojourners at the Care Center.

Trust God to meet you in the complex parts of your life. He doesn’t promise we won’t belly-flop, or stick our foot in our mouth,  but He will bring you to the surface for air. And, I promise— you will want to try again and again and again. 

Next Steps

Today, ask yourself who is a “floater” in your life that you tend to ignore. Ask God to help you make a change in that relationship. Explore serving opportunities at Willow and become a daily ambassador for our living God.