| Things to Live For |
Chapter 14 |
Page 5 |
It looks as if the priest, when he came near the wounded man, kept his face turned away so that he could not see him. There are many people who do the same in these days. They refuse to see the misery and sorrow about them. But keeping ourselves ignorant of human needs will never excuse us for not relieving them. The Levite turned aside, and looked at the wounded sufferer, and said, “Poor fellow, I am very sorry for you. Are you much hurt? I hope some of your friends will come to help you.” Then he went on.
There is much of this kind of sympathy in the world. People express interest in those who are suffering, telling them how sorry they are for them. Perhaps they promise to pray for them. Then they pass by on the other side. Such sympathy is very cheap, and is as valueless as cheap. It costs to do good to others. We cannot love our neighbor as ourself, and then save ourself from self denial and sacrifice. He that will save his life shall lose it. The way to save our life in reality is to give it out in love as the Good Samaritan gave out his life. It may seem a waste, a failure; but nothing emptied out in love is wasted.
“Long, long centuries
Agone One walked the earth, his life
A seeming failure:
Dying, he gave the world a gift
That will outlast eternities.”
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