Hear It on Sunday, Use It on Monday: See and Act

I interviewed another donor last week for an article I am writing for my job. I sat poised on MarySue’s couch in her elegant, formal living with the late-afternoon sun streaming through the sheers as she talked about her late husband, her love of music, her career as a piano teacher and her family history, which has allowed her to support a number of local and national charities. She recently made a very generous gift to Nebraska public television, which is why I was interviewing her for our magazine.

Toward the end of our conversation MarySue also mentioned Mozart, a young boy she mentored several years ago at one of Lincoln’s less privileged elementary schools. Mozart came from a troubled family, and he didn’t have many positive role models in his life. “When I found out his name was Mozart and that he wanted to play the piano, I just knew it was a connection that was meant to happen,” said MarySue.

Mozart is grown now and married. He works for Campus Crusade for Christ (I suspect MarySue, a devout Christian Scientist, had a hand in that as well). He and MarySue are still in touch. And although MarySue didn’t take credit for it, I know she had a profound and positive influence on his life.

One piano teacher. One boy in need of attention. One life changed forever.

I was reminded of MarySue and Mozart this morning. As I listened to the reading and to Pastor Sara preach on the parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37), I realized this: the Samaritan doesn’t help a nation of sufferers. He doesn’t travel thousands of miles to offer his services. He doesn’t strategize a long-term service project. He simply reacts swiftly and thoughtfully to the one person right in front of him who needs help.

One traveler. One man in need of attention. One life changed forever.

I think sometimes I overanalyze and overthink the message of the Gospels. I make it much more complicated than it needs to be. In reality, though, it’s not complicated. In fact, all those hundreds of parables and lessons and commandments contained in those translucent, onion-skin Bible pages boil down to this: Love God and love your neighbor, which is exactly what Jesus tells the lawyer.

“But who is my neighbor?” the lawyer presses Jesus for details. “How do I know which neighbor to love?” is what I think he's really asking Jesus.

“The person right in front of you, the one you might be inclined to walk right past -- that’s your neighbor,” Jesus answers through the parable of the Good Samaritan.

The reality is that you don’t have to look long, and you don’t have to look far. But you do have to open your eyes and look. And when you see a person, any person, in need, Jesus says, you must act. You must show compassion.

That’s exactly what MarySue did with Mozart. She saw a child in need right in front of her. She saw a suffering neighbor – and she acted, immediately, thoughtfully and with compassion.

Be the Good Samaritan. Be the MarySue. “Go and do likewise.” (Luke 10:37).

This week: Together, you and me: Let's look and really see. Let's act and show compassion to one neighbor. Sure it’s only one. It may not seem like much. But it may, in fact, be more than enough.  

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