You’ve probably heard the term Good Samaritan, but what does it actually refer to? It comes from a New Testament biblical parable- an Israelite travelling from Jerusalem to Jericho was brutally attacked by bandits who badly beat him, stole everything he had including his clothes, and then left him for dead by the side of the road. Several of his fellow countrymen passed by, but none stopped to help him, choosing to ignore his plight and hurry along their way. Then a man from Samaria, a country and people who were hated by the Israelites because of religious differences came along. He saw the wounded, naked victim and felt pity for him. The Samaritan bandaged the man’s wounds, placed him on the back of his donkey, and took him to an inn where he cared for him. He paid the innkeeper out of his own purse, spending his own time and money to help a stranger, moreover a man from a country that was thought to be an adversary. When Jesus learned of this he told his followers “Go and do likewise.”
A Modern Good Samaritan
Here’s one of my favourite examples of someone who became a modern Good Samaritan. An Australian woman lost her husband of many years. By necessity, they lived very far away from their old friends and relatives. The poor widow ended up sitting alone at her husband’s funeral, grieving in silence. This upset her so much that she decided she would try to prevent it from happening to anyone else. She started checking the newspapers for upcoming funeral services in Sydney, then called the church or funeral homes that were hoisting them to find out who and how many were expected to attend. When she explained why she was asking, the religious leaders and funeral directors were delighted, and if it turned out the crowd was thin, welcomed her to come join in. When she arrived at the service, a stranger bearing flowers and a loving, giving heart, she was always met with amazement followed by joyful tears from the lonely bereaved. She made a lot of friends that way, and when her time came to pass a crowd of hundreds attended her funeral.
Becoming a Good Samaritan yourself!
There are lots of ways we can help others, we can start just by being present in the moment! Being aware of the people around us instead of getting lost in our little world allows us to identify those who might be in need. If you are interested in donating to a charity and want to make sure it’s legitimate you can always check with your government’s charity regulation office, they can help you make sure your money goes to those who need it!
So, if you feel called to give of yourself to others, and make that part of your lifestyle, then you can be sure of one thing- it will all come back to you one way or another because everybody loves a Good Samaritan.