I can't tell you how many talks I've given about the Good Samaritan (a businessman who had compassion, capacity, competence, and courage).
It's a great parable with numerous applications to almost any time and place.
I'm not sure about you, but when I seek to understand a Scripture, I often place myself in the text. With the Good Samaritan, I've most often pictured myself as the Good Samaritan, which makes sense as that is how Jesus challenges us to act. Sometimes, I've pictured myself as the Priest or Levite, recognizing my issues and challenges with "getting involved."
Never have I pictured myself as the person who was beaten. I find that interesting and wonder whether that is the case with others.
A friend and DML board member recommended that I read "Finding Spiritual Whitespace: Awakening Your Soul to Rest" by Bonnie Gray, who explores this perspective.
In this book, the author writes that she has always known that she is the wounded stranger, "a casualty stripped bare on the side of life's highway...That stranger is me, too wounded to step closer to joy." She sees herself as a time-waster to the Levite, who is too busy and needs to get to his temple duties. She sees herself as an unacceptable risk to the priest who doesn't touch anything lifeless. She then says that she is both priest and Levite because she also passes by the wounded "me," trying too hard to be useful, and neglects herself.
It's easy to stop for others. But will we stop long enough for ourselves?
Some cultures believe that doing self-care is a sign of weakness, and they engage in "boundary shaming" for those who attempt to protect themselves. Other cultures may have taken self-care too far, allowing people to prioritize their comfort to such a degree that they are never willing to love their neighbor sacrificially. I'm not speaking of either of these extremes, but I do believe there is a call for balance.
It is out of this balance that creativity, ingenuity, and thoughtful engagement can emerge. It is out of quietness that we can hear the voice of God. It is often when we take a break from something we have been working on that we have an "aha" moment for how to solve it.
Jesus not only wants but needs me to stop on the side of the road of my busy life and take care of my wounded self. He needs me to acknowledge the wounds in my soul and address them. We take time to offer kindness and compassion to others, but we shouldn't neglect ourselves in the process. We should not become a stranger to ourselves by being so outward-focused.
1 Thessalonians 4:11-12 says that we are to "make it our ambition to lead a quiet life." For most of us, those words make no sense. A quiet life as our goal, our ambition? Our world, instead, tells us that we are supposed to be faster, louder, busier, and more engaged.
Alternatively, God calls us to engage the world with thoughtful creativity, seeing life as an adventure, as ambassadors of God. Our goal is not just to avoid stress, but to cultivate the opposite. We aspire for spiritual rest which brings joy and healing.
May God grant you spiritual rest this week as you make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, minding your own business, and working with your hands.
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