Wednesday, November 15, 2006
The Woman on the Bus
Matthew 25:35-40 "For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.' Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?' "The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'
I was riding the bus, staring out the window when a woman sat down beside me. She was a wreak - her face was cut up with wounds that had recently scabbed over. Her eyes were glassy, hair dishevled and she smelled bad. I wanted to move to another seat. I was repulsed by her.
But then a I remembered Jesus words... So I prayed for her. I didn't know what else to do. I suppose I could have tried to give her money - though she didn't ask for money. I couldn't bring myself to start a conversation with her - God forgive me, but I was weak and not prepared to "get involved" with her at that level. So I quietly prayed for her to be blessed, to be kept safe that day, to have the courage to leave an abusive relationship (which I thought she might be in, judging from the wounds), to be provided with food and shelter and to be protected from temptation.
Its one thing to sit in church and affirm that as Christians, we need to reach out to those in need. Its quite another to be confronted with a person in need sitting next to you on the bus. I'd like to think I'd respond with open arms and an abudance of Christs love. But when it came right down to it, I regretfully have to admit that my self interests came first...
I was riding the bus, staring out the window when a woman sat down beside me. She was a wreak - her face was cut up with wounds that had recently scabbed over. Her eyes were glassy, hair dishevled and she smelled bad. I wanted to move to another seat. I was repulsed by her.
But then a I remembered Jesus words... So I prayed for her. I didn't know what else to do. I suppose I could have tried to give her money - though she didn't ask for money. I couldn't bring myself to start a conversation with her - God forgive me, but I was weak and not prepared to "get involved" with her at that level. So I quietly prayed for her to be blessed, to be kept safe that day, to have the courage to leave an abusive relationship (which I thought she might be in, judging from the wounds), to be provided with food and shelter and to be protected from temptation.
Its one thing to sit in church and affirm that as Christians, we need to reach out to those in need. Its quite another to be confronted with a person in need sitting next to you on the bus. I'd like to think I'd respond with open arms and an abudance of Christs love. But when it came right down to it, I regretfully have to admit that my self interests came first...
# posted by KRI @ 2:01 PM 
Comments:
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do not be worried... people always feel what you felt. it is not about Christians, it is not about praying, it is about what you DO and how your soul answer to this situations. How did you look at her? didn´t you think you could come like that? Be careful about how you look at the "other" people. But don´t be worried, we are learning all the time
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