You know the Sunday School song....that one where you roll your arms in a spinning motion to simulate forward movement down a road and you sing "If a brother's in the road, I will stop and pick him up...... if a sister's in the road I will stop and pick her up....if a sinner's in the road I will stop and pick him up...and we won't tag along behind."
But, "if the Devil's in the road"--go ahead and sing along with me--"I will run right over him." Kids always loved to perform that last verse, revving up their "engines" to stomp out evil. And that's a good thing.
The trick is this. How do we know when someone is evil or just down and out? Literally, how do we know when to pull the car over, roll down the window, and offer assistance?
I have two daughters. I teach driver ed. I have insisted through the years that such actions might not be prudent; in other words, "DON'T do it--do not stop and pick up anyone!"
But I did last week. And I still have no idea if this person was a devil in disguise or a sinner in need of help--but I do know he was a person in need.
Here's the scenario: it's 1:30 in the afternoon, it's rainy and foggy, and there's a guy on the side of Highway 180 leaning up against a road sign. I notice him but drive by. I keep driving. I keep hearing that song in my head, and other thoughts that remind me I often talk a big talk about humanity and our responsibility to search for ways to help, talking passionately about not waiting until it slaps us in the face. So, two miles down the road I turn around. My justification (if one is needed because at times it is just to reassure people that I am not crazy) was that (1) it is daylight, (2) the weather is cold and miserable and only going to get worse, (3) I am only eight miles out of the nearest town, and (4) I can so I should. However, I am glad that I can pray and drive at the same time because I did.
The man needed to go east, but I was headed west. But, at this point he didn't have too many options so he threw his bag in the back seat, I invited him to sit in the front--muddy boots and all on my new car floor mats--and the turnaround took us back to Lamesa, Texas. In that eight-mile stretch, he told me what may or may not have been his true story.......his mother had died, he had no car but had caught a ride to Roswell for the funeral, he was a Christian, and that he had $20. Not that I needed the explanation. He just felt the need to tell me.
We drove to the Budget Inn where I got him a room for one night. He had the routine down, I must say, and filled out the registration card quickly and efficiently. It struck me as I drove off to my original destination that I did not ask him his name--nor did I look at the card when he wrote it. He was just the brother in the road, I guess.
Now, this isn't about a noble deed. What is noble about doing what we are supposed to do? Did he scam me? Maybe. I just know his physical appearance most definitely indicated a life of neglect (neglect perhaps due to mental issues or neglect due to financial ones). His teeth and his vision were in pitiful condition, and I would venture a pretty solid guess that he was about my age. Did I base my decision on helping him strictly on that sad appearance? Don't think so although admittedly sometimes I do.
Altruism--is it ever pure? I don't know. The motive for good deeds is a slippery slope. At some point, we all have had a reason--be it good or manipulative--for why we help others: "earning" our way to heaven, tax deductions, involvement in community affairs, trying to earn a merit badge, making a resume or college application look better, etc. The bottom line is that sometimes stuff just needs to get done. A man does not need to be sitting on the side of the road in freezing temps. Do something. Maybe I should have called the county sheriff and probably would have had it been dark. But do something.
But, "if the Devil's in the road"--go ahead and sing along with me--"I will run right over him." Kids always loved to perform that last verse, revving up their "engines" to stomp out evil. And that's a good thing.
The trick is this. How do we know when someone is evil or just down and out? Literally, how do we know when to pull the car over, roll down the window, and offer assistance?
I have two daughters. I teach driver ed. I have insisted through the years that such actions might not be prudent; in other words, "DON'T do it--do not stop and pick up anyone!"
But I did last week. And I still have no idea if this person was a devil in disguise or a sinner in need of help--but I do know he was a person in need.
Here's the scenario: it's 1:30 in the afternoon, it's rainy and foggy, and there's a guy on the side of Highway 180 leaning up against a road sign. I notice him but drive by. I keep driving. I keep hearing that song in my head, and other thoughts that remind me I often talk a big talk about humanity and our responsibility to search for ways to help, talking passionately about not waiting until it slaps us in the face. So, two miles down the road I turn around. My justification (if one is needed because at times it is just to reassure people that I am not crazy) was that (1) it is daylight, (2) the weather is cold and miserable and only going to get worse, (3) I am only eight miles out of the nearest town, and (4) I can so I should. However, I am glad that I can pray and drive at the same time because I did.
The man needed to go east, but I was headed west. But, at this point he didn't have too many options so he threw his bag in the back seat, I invited him to sit in the front--muddy boots and all on my new car floor mats--and the turnaround took us back to Lamesa, Texas. In that eight-mile stretch, he told me what may or may not have been his true story.......his mother had died, he had no car but had caught a ride to Roswell for the funeral, he was a Christian, and that he had $20. Not that I needed the explanation. He just felt the need to tell me.
We drove to the Budget Inn where I got him a room for one night. He had the routine down, I must say, and filled out the registration card quickly and efficiently. It struck me as I drove off to my original destination that I did not ask him his name--nor did I look at the card when he wrote it. He was just the brother in the road, I guess.
Now, this isn't about a noble deed. What is noble about doing what we are supposed to do? Did he scam me? Maybe. I just know his physical appearance most definitely indicated a life of neglect (neglect perhaps due to mental issues or neglect due to financial ones). His teeth and his vision were in pitiful condition, and I would venture a pretty solid guess that he was about my age. Did I base my decision on helping him strictly on that sad appearance? Don't think so although admittedly sometimes I do.
Altruism--is it ever pure? I don't know. The motive for good deeds is a slippery slope. At some point, we all have had a reason--be it good or manipulative--for why we help others: "earning" our way to heaven, tax deductions, involvement in community affairs, trying to earn a merit badge, making a resume or college application look better, etc. The bottom line is that sometimes stuff just needs to get done. A man does not need to be sitting on the side of the road in freezing temps. Do something. Maybe I should have called the county sheriff and probably would have had it been dark. But do something.
As powerful as anything he ever said, Jesus spoke these words in Matthew 25 when talking about the final judgment. People, he said, will ask when did they ever see Jesus hungry or thirsty or needing clothes or sick? When?
"We never had the chance to do that for you, Lord!"
"Whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me."
Maybe I did give Jesus a ride last week. The muddy footprints are there on my floor mats to prove it.
"We never had the chance to do that for you, Lord!"
"Whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me."
Maybe I did give Jesus a ride last week. The muddy footprints are there on my floor mats to prove it.
A wonderful story...not taking anything away from your good heart as I have the same inclinations, but please please don't make a habit of this...you have many wonderful gifts with which to share your love....love you so very much...
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