Just Stop

My most recent job was working as a paramedic. To say that it was an interesting job would be an understatement! Like any job though, it had its share of frustrations.

Cell phones are a wonderful invention – and are to our benefit most of the time. I have no doubt that people making a 9-1-1 call from the scene of someone experiencing an emergency of some kind has resulted in the necessary help getting there soon enough to make a difference…however, not everyone who makes that call stays or even stops at the scene. That was one of the frustrations of my job…the drive by caller!

This happened often enough that it really started to irritate me. It seemed to happen most often when slippery roads and poor visibility were factors. Someone driving down the highway would spot a car in the ditch. A call would be put in to dispatch EMS, fire personnel and RCMP. Because the caller hadn’t stopped there would be no way of knowing how many people might be involved, if in fact anyone was injured. More often than not, either someone was patiently waiting for a tow truck or the car had been in the ditch for some time and no one was even around.

I do understand the fear that someone might actually be injured and then what do you do…sort of…

One dispatch that I heard though made me think that this was often not the case - the caller actually stated that he “didn’t have time to stop.”

Remind you of anything? Ever heard of “The Good Samaritan?” You can read this story in Luke10:25 – 37.

The priest and the Levite are a kind of prototype of the ‘drive by caller’ – except they didn’t call…or drive! They certainly didn’t stop…things to do, people to see, I guess.

It is so easy to get wrapped up in our own day. The things we need to do. Responsibilities. Maybe it’s even that others are depending on us to be at a certain place at a certain time and helping someone out whose day isn’t going so well just doesn’t fit easily into the schedule. And yet…what does Jesus say? He says we should show mercy. (vs. 36, 37)

Showing mercy, extending kindness, being a neighbour will cost you something. It will at the very least cost your time. It may entirely hijack your day’s agenda. It might even be messy and seem to be beyond your level of comfort…but showing mercy is necessary. Expected. Because we have been shown mercy.

“Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.” (Luke 6:36)

Does that motivate you? You have received mercy…so extend mercy…

Could that thought, that truth, help us to slow down our day for others…maybe even stop by the side of the road?

Ruth