"A Willingness Within"

Please read Luke 10:25-37 (The story of “The Good Samaritan”)
Also, please read Thom Shuman’s “Half-Dead in the Ditch” at www.occasionalsightings.blogspot.com

If you notice, I have suggested that you not only read the Scriptures for the morning, but also Thom Shuman’s “Half-Dead in the Ditch” posting on his blog. Thom is a friend, a writer and poet, and a Presbyterian pastor. In his thoughts on Luke 10:25-37, he has reminded me that often we find ourselves right in the middle of the Scriptures in our everyday living. I call such things “God-sightings”. Thom calls them “Occasional Sightings of the Gospel”. As I read “Half-Dead in the Ditch”, I was reminded of a different look to the “Good Samaritan” story. It is a dog's story. At first glance it seems too remote to be considered an “occasional sighting” of this Gospel lesson for today. But actually, it IS this story.

Last Friday, a fairly large puppy was seen running across the parking lot of the business where I work. Well, let's just say “trying to run”. Her front paw was caught in the makeshift collar. One of our salesmen brought the puppy into our reception area. She collapsed and closed her eyes. The collar was for a very large dog; certainly not meant for a puppy. It had been cinched in with a twist-tie. That left a loop in which her foot had become entangled. There was no "give" in the collar so she was choking herself with each step. When she collapsed on the floor, she closed her eyes. She was so exhausted from both the heat and trying to run on 3 legs that she couldn't move. We petted her for a while and whispered to her. Still, her eyes remained closed. The animal control officer said, “She doesn’t stand a chance. Look at her face. She is part pit bull. Her ears have been trimmed by the owner. He probably has intentions of raising her for dog fights. If I take her away, she will only have 3 days.” The officer left with instructions to call her again if we chose to have this puppy taken away. The puppy never moved or opened her eyes as we talked about her.

Soon we found ourselves stepping over the puppy and walking around her. She was in our way. Someone picked her up and moved her into another room as a convenience to us. Still, she didn’t move nor did she open her eyes. There was talk of calling the animal control officer back. 4:00pm came. Still no movement. Still no opened eyes. 4:30pm arrived. The little 4-year-old daughter of one of our employees came into the office area from day school. Her mother told her little daughter to stay away from the puppy. “Don’t touch her. Don’t bother her.” The little one ignored her mother's request. She sat down on the floor, curled up beside of the puppy and began to gently stroke her. She firmly told everyone to “quit stepping over her.” She whispered into the puppy's ear. She placed her head on the puppy. I stood at the door and overheard her say, "I am here. You are OK." 4:50pm. The little girl and this puppy were walking down the hall! She was a bit possessive, keeping all of us who had been walking around and stepping over the puppy, away from the puppy. A few minutes later, I sat down with the little girl on the couch in the reception area. She was gently stroking the puppy. I asked her how SHE knew what to do. Her answer? “Because I am little and the puppy is little.”

All other days, this child hates to be called little. Normally, she would put her hands on her hips, stomp her foot and say "I'm a NOT little. I am a BIG girl." She's a stubborn little thing! Perhaps, in great mercy, she was WILLING to remember her smallness for the sake of this puppy.

There was a willingness within this child to become little again for the sake of the puppy ... there was a willingness within the "Good Samaritan" to recall his own days in the ditch and remember the best way out for the sake of the one who was beaten ... there was a willingness within Jesus to become despised and rejected, to be thrown into death's ditch and to be pulled back out by God for all of our sakes.

Most Merciful God ... There was a willingness within this child, this Samaritan and certainly within Jesus to offer great mercy. Is there a willingness within me as well? Am I willing to be the neighbor who loves and shows mercy? Oh, I pray that I am but in my heart I know that I have failed so many times. Forgive me... forgive us for stepping over others. Jesus points to this little girl and her puppy and then looks into our eyes and says, “Go and do likewise." Open our eyes, O God. Open our eyes and hearts to love and mercy. Amen.

anna