How To Be A Neighbor

One cold NYC night near Christmas, my husband and I ran down the steps of the subway station, headed to our apartment. As is usually the case in stations, a man stood at the bottom of the steps, mumbling something to each person who hurried past.

One after another, our stream of people passed by him because the train was pulling up and we had important places to be.

After I’d passed, I heard him behind me saying, "Oh, thank you, sir. Thank you so much!”

I peeked back and saw him leaning in close to another person like they were working on something.

“I can’t do it on my own,” he was saying.

It was clear to see then, once I actually paused to look, that the man had only one working arm and he was trying to find someone who would help him zip up his coat.

So the other person (my husband) fumbled with the zipper, pulled it up to the man’s chin, and the night felt a little less cold.

And when I think about beauty in the world, it’s these kinds of moments that come to mind. Sometimes we’re recipients, asking for help, and sometimes we have the chance to respond with kindness. Either way, we’re changed.

Jesus came as a light in the darkness and we all just have these little chances to carry His light.

I’ve been reading the book of Luke this month and I was struck in the Parable for the Good Samaritan. The lawyer means to test Jesus by asking, “Well, who is my neighbor?” after Jesus has told him to love his neighbor.

Jesus tells the story of the Good Samaritan and then in Luke 10:36 asks, “Which of these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among robbers?”

The responsibility is on us to be the neighbor, not to determine who is our neighbor.

May our Christmases be full of true beauty and light given.