Hello Mi Neighbour | Reviving the Good Samaritan spirit

WHILE SPEAKING with Juliet, a longtime friend, recently, I was reminded of something about the human spirit that reawakened something in me that will stay awake for the rest of my life: when powered by selflessness, not only will you walk with your neighbour an extra mile or two, but you will also go the whole journey and even beyond. The story of the Good Samaritan is a good example.

Not only did the goodly gentleman risk his life by stopping and stooping to look at a badly wounded robbery victim, but he singlehandedly placed him in his private vehicle, checked him into a medical facility and covered all his medical expences from admission to discharge.

Clearly, the Samaritan got the gist of what the Master meant when He commanded us to love our neighbour as ourselves and to do unto others the very thing that we would want them to do unto us, without batting an eye or expecting compensation from the “others”.

You see, we are all living in a world where “di same knife dat juk sheep can juk goat”. In other words, the fate that befalls your neighbour could befall you. Makes sense therefore that we always show kindness to others, as our need for kind deeds could pop up at any time.

In many parts of our society, the Samaritan spirit seems to be long dead, but we give thanks that the “resurrection” power is still alive, in several pockets! There is hope. This spirit can be rekindled by those who “walk in this spirit” of neighbourliness and can serve as a source of inspiration to those who are buried in selfishness.

As we seek to resurrect selflessness, let’s set ourselves to bury selfishness before its stench suffocates us! Imagine a young strong man assisting an elderly lady across the road and expecting a tip from her, a passerby helping an unfortunate motorist to change his tyre or assisting a neighbour who falls to the ground and expects to be paid. Can you imagine! Let me switch gear.

Imagine someone receiving backpay or retroactive money from his/workplace and using all of it to help fix the roof of a “dead stranger” with no ulterior motive or hope for repayment or reward. Who would do that? That actually happened a few years back right here in a Jamaican community. Won’t elaborate, save to say that the neighbour saw the plight of her neighbour, moved with compassion which was powered by irrestible selflessness, and the rest is history. Nice story.

So, my friend is now saying that her wish for her next birthday is that all her friends who are planning to buy her gifts, contribute the “gift money” to building a bathroom for a senior citizen from an adjoining community. Wow! How noble and selfless. What’s happening here? She is being powered by selflessness and is ready to walk the entire journey with the needy.

Remember now, loving your neighbour as yourself emphasises treating others with the same kindness, compassion, and respect that you would extend to yourself. It involves understanding your own needs and desires and then extending that same consideration to others. It’s about recognising the inherent worth and dignity of every individual, regardless of their background or circumstances.

Loving your neighbour as yourself may even tip over into loving your neighbour more than yourself: a higher level of self-sacrifice, implying a willingness to prioritise others’ needs above your own, potentially to the point of laying down your life for them.

This should not be seen as self-deprecation or a denial of your own needs. Loving our neighbour as ourselves suggests that the value we place on ourselves should be no less than the value we place on ourselves. Lastly, let’s not tamper with the value the Creator has placed on each of us.

KINDLY HELP A NEIGHBOUR WITH ONE OF THE FOLLOWING

1. Stove

2. Refrigerator

3. Bed

4. Food

5. Help with medication

6. Financial assistance to start a little business

To help, please call Silton Townsend @ 876 649-9636 or deposit in acct #351 044 276 NCB. Alternatively, send donations to Hello Neighbour C/o 53 Half-Way Tree Road, Kingston 10; Paypal/credit card: email: zicron22@yahoo.com. Contact email: helloneighbour@yahoo.com. Visit hellomineighbourja.blogspot.com. Townsend exclusively manages the collections and distributions mentioned in this column and is neither an employee nor agent of The Gleaner.