Conflicting Thoughts

There was an unconscious drunk guy laying face-down and completely sprawled out in the middle of the park plaza today.  And, to make matters worse, there was a group of about 20 young people, still in their school uniforms, encircling the unconscious man while two of the boys knelt on the man’s back.  The whole group was laughing as if it were great fun.

Maybe they thought the man deserved it.  After all, he had chosen to get himself so completely drunk that he passed out in a very public place.  The Bible does command us not to get drunk on wine because it leads to debauchery.  (Eph. 5:18)  Perhaps they thought they were teaching the man a lesson.

On the other hand, the Bible also teaches that we are to have mercy.  One definition of mercy is:  “Compassionate treatment, especially of those under one's power” (thefreedictionary.com).  At that moment, the man was helpless and under their power—mercy and compassion were needed.  Instead of mocking and taunting the man, they could have just left him alone.  After waking up, the man would have realized his poor choice and felt shame for his behavior.  He did not need others to point it out.

I felt sadness and frustration over the situation.  I wanted to go over and give the group a good tongue lashing.  At the same time, I had to be aware of the setting—there were about 20 of them and one of me.  The situation could have become physically dangerous for me as a single woman or I might have just been laughed at or ignored.  Because I did not know which way things could go, I kept my distance.

As I prayed and walked away, the Holy Spirit brought to mind the story of the Good Samaritan.  In Luke 10:25-37, Jesus taught about a man who was beaten up, robbed and left for dead.  A priest and a Levite (temple workers) passed by on the other side of the road, but a Samaritan man (despised people group) went above and beyond to help the man.  Jesus finished the story by advising that we be people who show mercy.

My heart hurt for the man who chose to look to alcohol for relief from whatever he is facing and I fear for the young people who found it funny to torment a man who clearly needs help.  Though I did pray, I feel upset because I am honestly not sure what else I should have or could have done.  Even though I do understand the need for caution and common sense, a part of me still feels like a coward because maybe God wanted to do something more.

This time, I do not have a good way to wrap up my thoughts.  I am not sure that I did the right thing and I will continue to pray about that.  For now, my prayer is that God will continue to lead me by His Holy Spirit and help me recognize what to do when I find myself facing difficult situations.  I want God to use me and I do not want to “pass by on the other side of the road.”  May God help me be a woman of compassion, wisdom and unselfishness.

“God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can and the wisdom to know the difference.”