Christian Living

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“I didn’t ask for that truck to crash into my car,” the man said to me as he looked at pictures of the house he used to own. He built and operated three radio stations at one time. He was a pilot with intelligence in the genius range. Now he had brain damage, had been swindled out of his radio businesses, was in a wheelchair on disability and unable to adequately provide for his family.

Squirming in my seat, I was acutely aware of my earlier assumptions that this family was a black hole of need that I should avoid. I had concluded, like Job’s friends in the Bible, that this man must have done something wrong, made bad choices or was just too prideful to work and consequently ended up in this tragic situation.

There is not a better lesson in life to learn than to walk in someone else’s shoes. I found myself on unemployment after working for 34 years and couldn’t find a job as the months went by and was also unable to adequately provide for my child. Anxiety and discouragement were rising to tidal wave levels.

Certain members of my family began to believe I was irresponsible and untrustworthy. They felt free to voice their opinions on how I had made mistakes, unwise choices and wondered what my problem was as to why I couldn’t find employment. It didn’t matter that the nation was near a national depression and I was one of the casualties. Regardless of the economic climate, somehow it was my fault that my company closed its doors and my fault that I couldn’t find more work.

I have a sneaking suspicion that as long as we can blame others for whatever the problems may be, as long as “those people” deserve what they are getting, then the rest of us are not responsible to help them. How many times have we heard words like, “they got themselves into it, they can get themselves out of it” or “you’ve made your bed, now you can lie in it?”

My crushing circumstance has softened my heart towards the troubles of other people. I learned that hard times don’t mean someone has done something wrong. They may be completely innocent and undeserving of the pain and difficulties they are now facing.

It has also given me a desire to try to understand the plight of others and find areas where I can possibly assist them or comfort them in their struggles. I don’t need to stand and judge their lives. It wouldn’t help them and I would most likely be completely wrong. I now know the pain of misjudged actions and character.

To my amazement, I also know the surprise of help coming from unexpected places; particularly a family, who need much more than I do, trying to help me in any way they can.

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