“Do you need an ambulance?”
I had been walking my dog in a church parking lot when I saw a man lying near a tree, in dirt. I wondered if he was alive even. He didn’t move at all.
I thought about telling someone at the church, as there were people around, several yards away. But then I thought, why can’t I just go check on him?
So I did.
As I got closer, I said, “Sir? Are you o.k.?” He woke up and squinted at me. I repeated my question. He replied that he wasn’t all right. That’s when I asked if he wanted me to call an ambulance.
“Oh. No. I don’t need that. But I could use a cold drink!” He smiled.
My suspicions were confirmed when I saw his glassy eyes and heard him slurring words as he talked. When he moved, I saw a liquor bottle sitting on the ground beside him. He was drunk.
I knew there was no use talking further, as he probably didn’t even know where he was, nor would he remember the conversation. So I told him I hoped he felt better and went on my way, feeling badly that he was at that point in his life. (I did give him a soft drink. He was polite and said thank you.)
The fact was that I couldn’t solve his problems. He had arrived at that point through a series of poor decisions. In my work as a social worker, I’ve learned that usually people like this know the resources in the community, including the shelters where they can sleep. Often, they don’t want that kind of help.
So what do we do/how do we respond as Christians? Have you ever encountered this type of situation?
Practically speaking, I did what I could. I checked to see if he needed medical help. I gave him a drink.
He chose to stay there, in the dirt, and went back to sleep.
The Bible addresses people who choose this kind of life. I’ve met lots of them who do not want to work. Or they are too sick with substance abuse issues and cannot work in that state of body and mind. But they often don’t want to do the work that would help them make changes in their lives.
The Bible addresses this.
“There is profit in hard work, but mere talk leads to poverty.” (Proverbs 14:23)
“Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands . . .” (Ephesians 4:28)
And when we have the ability to help someone, not in an “enabling” way, the Bible says this —
“Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will reward them for what they have done.” (Proverbs 19:17)
How do you handle these situations?
Leave a comment!
Pam Means
My first thought as I was reading this; I think in these days when violence is rampant, I would have asked a person of 2 or 3 you saw near him to go to him together. Then my thought was of “The Good Samaritan”. He didn’t linger, he helped the man. But because I’m worried about all that’s going on in this world, I think I would have hesitated going to him alone. (Remember, there’s no way I could run). I actually think I would have gone into the church to let them know he was there. And if he gave me & the 2 or 3 the same answer of a “drink” I would have gotten him a soda too. You are such a kind person, & you would have asked me what YOUR answer to the question was; it would be exactly what you did. Thanks for this blog, I love it and I look forward to it.
Pam, wonderful and thought provoking, as usual. Thank you.
Penny