Help, Don't Hurt

Scripture Reading: Galatians 6:1-10

Several years ago, a Tulsa woman was in her kitchen kneading bread, making some dinner rolls, when she heard the sound of glass breaking. She turned around to see that a large red-tailed hawk had crashed through her patio window. The hawk was lying on its side, it beak was broken, it was bleeding, and struggling to get up. The woman grabbed a broom and proceeded to beat the poor bird with it. Then, she threw a box over the top of it and called 911.

              I laughed when I read the story, not because I found the bird’s suffering amusing, but because of the woman’s reaction. I mean, here was this poor bird, having made the biggest mistake of its life, dazed, probably not sure what had just happened, suffering, needing help and compassion and what he got was more of a beat down.

              It reminded me of how we, at times, treat people. They come to us bloodied by life and sin, struggling to get up, desperately in need of love and compassion, and the only thing we offer is more of a beat down. There are times when tough love is needed. But most of the time people need a helping hand, prayer, healing, and, most of all, the gospel.

              Next time you see someone suffering from the consequences of their own sin, before you reach for the broom to beat them with (or as Jesus said, “cast the first stone”), stop and ask yourself how Jesus might deal with them. Consider if helping them up might be the best, first step.