The, um, other Samaritan

"A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, 

and fell among thieves, 

who stripped him of his clothing, wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead.  

Now by chance, a certain priest came down that road.  

And when he saw him, he passed by on the other side.  

Likewise a Levite, when he arrived at the place, 

came and looked, and passed by on the other side.  

But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was.  

And when he saw him, he had compassion.  

So he went to him and bandaged his wounds, 

pouring on oil and wine; 

and he set him on his own animals, brought him to an inn, 

and took care of him."

Luke 10:30-34

The story of the Good Samaritan.  You probably know it well.  It's one of those Bible passages that is known worldwide, even by those who don't read the Bible.  Hospitals and organizations have borrowed the title, and it's informally used to label anyone who steps up to help a stranger in need.

But do you know the rest of the story of the Good Samaritan?

He had left his house that day specifically to undertake a mission of mercy.  Sam, as we'll call him, kissed his kids and wife goodbye, and went out to do a good deed for someone.  Someone who needed something specific, who was in a discouraged place in life.  Sam knew what was needed and he wanted to help that person, so off he went.

And then, going down the road, he came across A Certain Man.  Now, when he saw him, he knew what he had to do, but he wasn't happy about it.  I mean, he did have compassion for the Certain Man.  He could tell what had happened to the Certain Man, and he knew he needed to help him, so he did.  But he grumbled a lot under his breath.  He had an errand he had to take care of.  And it was an important errand; an unselfish errand to bless someone else.  And this unexpected, unplanned-for need on the part of the Certain Man was annoyingly and irritatingly interfering with his accomplishment of his very unselfish, very merciful, very righteous deed.

Okay, not really.

That wasn't Sam.

That was me.  Annoyed and self-righteous.

Sigh.... Sometimes spiritual growth seems like it's "one step forward; two steps back" doesn't it?

~ "Therefore, as we have the opportunity,

let us do good to all..." ~

Galatians 6:10