While we can.

A few months ago, I wrote a post titled Terminal, where I referenced an interview between a local pastor and the old director of the bible camp I used to volunteer at.

The directors name was Bruce Morock. And he was dying of cancer.

This week I found out that Mr. Morock- with his bushy eyebrows, witty humor and zealous faith, had crossed the line into glory. He is gone.

The news hit me extra hard since my own Grandfather was told just weeks ago that was no further treatment was available for the cancer that has been ravaging his own body.

And amid it all, the news was shared with me that a family I am acquainted with had tragically lost their six year old son in a logging accident and his older brother who had tried to save him was now fighting for his life in the ICU. (You can read the full story and find the link to their GoFundMe page here)

All around me, a world dying.
All around me, a world mourning.
All around me, a world groaning.

We are all hurting.

Just like there is no one who escapes death, there is no one who escapes pain. We are marred and bruised and bloodied by it, but we are also molded and shaped and defined by it. Pain makes us people.

But as people, we cannot heal every wound.
We cannot mend every heart.

And because we are incapable, at times we are tempted to wonder if we should even try at all.

But that is not what Jesus says in the story of the Good Samaritan.

Listen to these words….

“A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side.  But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. The next day he took out two denarii  and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’

 Then Jesus asked them, “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 10:30-37

In this parable, the good Samaritan didn’t have to go looking for the wounded traveler. God placed him in his path.

Not only did he have the mercy required to care for him,
he had the opportunity required to care for him.

The whole world is hurting because the whole world is under a curse called death. But we can’t save the whole world.

We can’t mend every heart.

We are just responsible to do what we can, while we can, for the ones God has placed in our path.

I’m not the only one who knows someone who is grieving, hurting, sick, or scared. I’m sure you’ve heard stories of your own this week about someone in your own life who is struggling…In your neighborhood, your school, at the office, at your gym… there is someone who is hurting. There is someone who needs kindness.

And if no one comes to mind, pray for God to bring someone to mind.
Then pray for an opportunity to show them how much they are loved.

Our days are numbered.
Our diagnosis is one and the same-

We are terminal.

So we must do what we can, while we can.

“Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.” -Ephesians 5:16