Being in Nairobi during rainy season is very wet. After enjoying a great date Michael and I had
a 15 minute walk home in the rain. No taxis around. Very strange for Africa. So
we laughed and had fun in the rain. After about five minutes I noticed there
was an umbrella over my head. It was a sweet African man on his way to church.
He walked with us and we shared names. He was Ezekiel. He shared how he had
been in Ohio for a conference and that he worked with people who had disabilities.
I told him I worked in Physical Therapy and he was very excited. He proceeded to
hand me the umbrella as he pulled out his business card. He handed them to Michael. As I held the
umbrella he said. “Ok guys, It is yours.” Within five seconds he ran and was gone out of sight, leaving us with his umbrella.
I believe that is what God means to love your neighbor.
There was a man beaten on the ground. And the people who passed him by were the
“religious, church goers of the day.” They had to stick to THEIR traditions and
had too many important “church” things to do to not even slow down to help the beaten man.
The person who stopped to help was a Samaritan. A Samaritan was looked down upon
and was considered a sinner, but he was the one who stopped and helped. Jesus made a great point to the people in
that day and to us. He is telling us to not be so focused on the religious
seeming tasks and schedules. But instead, to find ways to be a good Samaritan. To
slow down and ask God for opportunities for us to show big and small acts of
Gods love for people.
its not always about where you are going, but what is along the way.
