Reevaluating the Good Samaritan

My Jetta broke down in the brief torrent that was our share of Hanna Saturday; I think it's the alternator. As I stood there, cell phoneless and watching cars maneuver around me annoyed at the inconvenience of my existence, I rethought the Good Samaritan.

We always talk as if his salient spiritual quality were kindness. Nothing of the sort. I could see quite clearly in the demeanor of vehicles leaving me in their sewer-laced wake that the stranger from Samaria had a trait never commented on from the pulpit. The man had faith.

You see, the motorists passing me by would probably have exercised kindness if they had the time. But one of them was on his way to work. Another had to get the kids from the babysitter. Another had to go food shopping and be back in time to get that important phone call at 5 o'clock. Another was bringing a meal to a sick person. Another was on her way to the wake I drove past earlier.

Honestly, I don't think this was an easy call for them. At $3.55 a gallon I don't believe anyone was out there driving aimlessly. They all had somebody they would be letting down if they stopped for me. It would take more faith than your average bear's to arrive at the spiritual calculation that if they scrapped their tight schedule, things will turn out OK in the end-because a God in heaven who masterminds every contingency under the sun would work it all out for their good.