We Should Save People More Often
https://johnpavlovitz.com/2017/09/07/save-people-often/
We Should Save People More Often
September 7, 2017 / John Pavlovitz
I watched it happen over and over in Houston, and it brought me to tears every single time: an imperiled human being sits perched atop a nearly submerged car surrounded by rising, rushing water, as a group of strangers begins to assemble and lock armsinstantly becoming a chain of humanity; one by one extending itself, until finally reaching the terrified driver and passing them toward safety.
I dont know any of the people linked together in those waters and I know nothing about them individuallybut Im quite sure one thing is true of all of them.
Im fairly certain they didnt get together on dry ground first to compare theology or to confirm one anothers politics. They didnt discuss who they each voted for, their respective opinions on immigration, their sexual orientation, or what they thought of Hillarys emailsin order to determine who they were willing to lock arms with, who merited being a link in that salvation chain alongside them, who could be a rescuer.
And Im positive they didnt first examine the stranded drivers Facebook page or confirm their citizenship status or get their opinion on guns or ask whether theyd acted recklessly to get into the mess they werein order to decide whether or not they were worth saving.
Those who gathered on the edge of the churning water saw another human being in imminent danger, and without having to say a word to each other decided to do something brave and beautiful and redemptive togetherbecause the life on the end of that chain was worth that. The inherent value of the stranger sitting in that filthy, terrifying river was more than anything they believed or considered about one another that might keep them from moving together.
When we see people clearly in need, obviously in danger as we have this week, we put aside lazy stereotypes, opposing politics, or exterior differences, and we care for them without pausing to examine whether or not we agreed with or even liked them. We become the best version of humanity because we know how valuable life is and we are propelled toward that life when it is endangered.
If only we could realize that people around us are always in need, just less visibly so.
snip//
Look around you today. There are hurting, struggling, exhausted people everywhere who are living urgently. Respond to them with urgency.
Lives are in great peril today. Find someone to lock arms with, and do something redemptive with this day to save it.