But a Samaritan while traveling came upon him, and when he saw him he was moved with compassion.
-Luke 10:33

“Are you okay?”, the Samaritan asked.

“Me?” the man in the ditch replied. “Oh, I’m fine, thanks.”

Imagine if the parable had gone that way. The victim in the ditch, for whatever reason, brushed away the inquiry with those two simple words. The Samaritan shrugged and continued on his way.

Even though the guy was in really bad shape, something kept him from admitting it. What a silly man, indeed. Who would do such a thing?

You, probably. Me, definitely.

I hear it or say it maybe two dozen times every Sunday. “Good morning, how are you?” “I’m fine.”

We say it automatically — it’s our standard deflection. But then, I’ll hear of someone who was in the hospital and didn’t tell us. Or getting divorced and never reached out. Or suffering from depression or financial difficulties or even left the church without talking to anyone about it.

Honestly, this isn’t a “Sunday morning”, or a “pastor” issue. It’s a teenagers-after-school issue. It’s a co-worker or spouse issue.

It’s a suffering issue. Suffering in silence.

I get it. We don’t want to be spilling our guts to strangers. (Although I think the traveler in this story was actually spilling his guts.)

But we assume that people don’t want to hear our problems. And sometimes, I just don’t want to think about how bad things are.

You’ve got to pick your moments–that’s true. I’m actually surprised by the people and situations where I find myself opening up. In that rare moment, I’m nudged to speak up.

But much of the time? I say “I’m good”, or “living the dream”, or my favorite one, “if I were any groovier I’d be a record.” (I copyrighted that)

More deflection.

That’s okay. It’s a form of self-preservation and healthy boundaries, but when we deny that we truly need help, or comfort, or prayers, we aren’t allowing our brothers and sisters to love their neighbors.

Which was the whole point of the parable of The Good Samaritan.

Which of these three, do you think, was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of the robbers?” He said, “The one who showed him mercy.” Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.”
-Luke 10:36-37

The Samaritan was supposed to be a natural-born enemy of this traveler, but he is remembered and blessed for his willingness to help. Hard to imagine. But there are people –friends- who would bend over backwards to help us in times of trial. That’s what friends are for. (And pastors.)

Suffering? One extra word from you can crack open the love of God, neighbor, and self.

“How’s it going?”

“Me? I am NOT fine.”

Have a good week,

Mitch