Who was the Samaritan's Neighbor?

The scripture before the parable that describes the Samaritan asks, “Who is my neighbor?”  Yet who was it he helped?

Monica started by coming to our food bank every week.  A quiet and reserved older lady, smelling un-bathed at times,  somewhat shaped like a pumpkin.  She would struggle to walk from her home to our door with her little metal cage, hand cart on two wheels.  It held her oxygen tank & space for groceries.

She had lots of medical problems & no real friends but her Chihuahuas.  Never married with some mental issues, she had lived her life helping her parents until their deaths.  Now an old woman with no children, only dogs.

Seeking a deeper relationship, we asked Monica if she’d like to volunteer at the Food Bank helping people to sign in for food.  She jumped at the chance to help people as she was helped.  Interaction didn’t start out easy, but she learned.

God smiled, and we all learned something about Monica, too.  Her quiet reserve and patience was the perfect match for our hesitant refugees struggling with real needs and poor English. 

Monica loves them and they love her.

All this to say, a bit over a month ago, Monica fell in the alleyway she walks down to go home.  She couldn’t get up.  She tried so very hard.  She even called out two separate times to people heading to Colfax down the alley.  Only to have them skirt her and walk on by.

After over an hour in the sun, laying in gravel and losing hope, Monica heard a familiar voice speaking in Nepali. An old woman and her 8 year old grandson.  It took everything they all had, but they got Monica up and walked her home.

A week later, they worked along side our volunteers to clear out and clean up Monica’s home so that she might keep her dogs and her home from the threat of city citations.

In reaching out, Monica has learned that her neighbors are reaching back.  As she steps out in faith, giving of her time, God appears.  Even in languages we might not speak but that our hearts understand.