I'd Rather Not Get Involved

In years gone by the old phrase "I don’t want to get involved" tended to apply to situations like reporting a crime in the neighborhood or picking a hitch hiker up on the side of the road ~ you know, those bigger things in life. "Things" that we might be afraid to get involved with. But what I’ve found out is that these days it takes far far less for folk to walk away from someone or something and say "I just don’t want to get involved."

For the past two weeks I’ve been encouraging this awesome group of home school moms that I direct to really make a difference ~ being a good listening friend ~ being a comforting friend ~ you don’t have to have a degree in counseling ~ just reach out and be there for folk. No one expects us to solve their problems ~ they just want to know that we care about them.

It took a tragedy to open up my eyes that I, myself, have been slacking in this department. And I know better! The lessons from my moma run deep to be of help to folk ~ loving them along ~ praying for them and with them ~ giving of my time ~ forgiving no matter what. I believe I came away with a strong dose of the fundamentals of being a servant to others. And yet I’ve failed. I do not think I could ever be the excellent example that my moma has always been but I certainly have been equipped with how to be like her ~ and it is up to me as to whether I utilize those lessons to help others.

So for the past five months I have been reminded again and again ~ first hand ~ how tremendously important it is for Christian folk to reach out. And what I’ve found out is that people are not reaching out like they should ~ even to their brothers and sisters in Christ. Folk don’t want to get involved. They don’t want to take the time. And that is so very unfortunate and sad. Have you ever been in that situation? You just needed someone to talk to ~ someone to say "I love you and I’m here for you ~ I can’t take away your pain but I will pray for you." We need to be doing more of that. Because there are a whole lot of people hurting out there.

Just today the ladies in the group asked prayer for a young couple that just had a baby shower in anticipation of their firstborn ~ a few days later the baby was declared dead. That mother will have to deliver a still born child. And then there is the young man who was driving a long and an ATV hit him head on. The boy riding the ATV ~ an only child ~ was killed. Technically it was his fault but the life of the young man who hit him will be changed forever. And then there is the young man who is nearly bedridden with pain ~ doctors cannot determine exactly what is wrong with him ~ and he has no insurance. And what about the family that has become victim to pornography in their home. The lives of the wife and children are in complete turmoil now. And then there is the woman who asked prayer for her parents ~ both which have been diagnosed with thyroid cancer.

And all of this goes to show that people need people to care. People need to be loved, to be prayed for ~ people just need us to listen ~ give of our time ~ reach out and behave in a way that would be pleasing to Jesus. I must admit it is very frustrating to me to see the complacency of so many Christians because "they don’t want to get involved." And yet I can’t be too critical because I once was in their place.

Drop someone a card, an email, give them a call ~ check on them and see how they are doing. We all know someone who is going through a dark time right now ~ reach out and touch them!

A note about the picture: This trio is my sweet moma, myself, and my oldest daughter, Sarah, on her wedding day - just three years ago.