I was at our local gym a few weeks ago, mid-morning on a Saturday. For once, we didn’t have soccer, so I was trying to squeeze in a much-needed workout. Mind you, I had just rolled out of bed, frizzy hair in a bun, no makeup, and a soccer mom t-shirt. I had the look of – please don’t talk to me -I’m sure of it. I had my Air Pods in, keeping to myself as I like to do when I work out. I don’t like socializing; I like doing my thing and getting out. I was on the elliptical machine and had this eerie feeling of being watched. You know that feeling of discernment when you know something is off? I finished my time on the machine and got off to do some weight machines. My feeling of discernment turned into truth when this man approached me. He kept telling me I was so pretty. I said thank you and would move somewhere else. He would follow me. This went on for 10 minutes or so. I finally said something like, “I think I need to go find my husband,” so that he might go away (Jon didn’t go with me that morning, or this would have never happened). He didn’t take the hint and kept trying to get in my way and talk to me. Physically blocking me from my path. I looked over, and I saw another gentleman watching this go on, and I was really, really hoping that guy would step in and say something because it was obvious, I was uncomfortable. But he didn’t. After what felt like an eternity, I finally slipped away, walked around the treadmills, and hid in the bathroom for a few minutes before I left, checking over my shoulder the whole time to make sure the weirdo wasn’t following me.
Now, what bothered me the most about all of this was the guy watching. He sat on his bench with his weights and saw what was happening to me, a seemingly defenseless woman at the time, and said nothing. He was a big dude, too. He looked concerned. But didn’t say a word. He could have said “Hey man, I think she wants you to leave her alone.” But he didn’t. He just sat there.
I wasn’t scared thinking about myself, but what if that were my daughter instead of me? I am a 40 something woman that can handle myself. But what if my daughter was out on her own in college one day working out in a local gym, and a man was doing this to her, and no one helped her? No one stood up for her?! I get sick at that thought.
Psalm 82: 4 Rescue the weak and the needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked. Godly men (and women) are called to defend the weak. We are called to stand up for those who are in a situation in which they cannot stand up for themselves.
Where Are We Headed?
A week ago, my husband, daughter, and I were headed into town when we came upon a wreck. One woman was flagging us down, so Jon immediately pulled over and jumped out to help. I immediately started to pray. I prayed hard. I prayed there were no casualties; I kept praying this over and over. This was before ambulances or fire trucks had arrived. Two young teens were involved in an upside-down crash, thankfully alive. However, the woman who saw the wreck and flagged us down said at least 10 people passed by before we stopped. They saw it and kept driving. What in the world?
People don’t stop for funerals anymore; no one opens doors these days. Rudeness seems to be the rule.
Have we all been conditioned just to stay in our lane?
Does no one want to be confrontational for the right reasons anymore?
In Luke 10: 30-35, Jesus tells us the Parable of the Good Samaritan. A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. A priest happened to be going down the same road and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and win. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. The next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’
People who stop to help seem to be few and far between. Are good Samaritans ceasing to exist because of this canceled culture we live in now?
Is the World Falling Apart or Falling Into Place?
If you watch the news at all, you know the war in Israel, particularly the conflict between Israel and Hamas, escalated significantly in recent months. My daddy always said to keep your eyes on Israel the way God keeps His eyes on Israel. He and my momma had the opportunity to visit Jerusalem once, and he even got to go back by himself a second time. I know he is dancing with Jesus right now, but I still love to picture him walking where Jesus walked here on earth, visiting the places He preached, taught, and even was buried and rose from the tomb. My dad always prepared us for what the future held for Jesus’ believers, but it did not seem possible that His return would happen in my lifetime. Ya’ll now, I’m not so sure. I’m not making a prediction or anything; even Jesus said only the Father in Heaven knows when His return will be. I’m just saying it is time to get our houses in order and make sure we are all ready.
Jesus warned his disciples (and us) in all of the gospels of the signs. In Luke 21, the entire chapter lays it out: please go read the whole thing. But in particular, verses 9-11, “When you hear of wars and uprisings, do not be frightened. These things must happen first, but the end will not come right away. Then he said to them, “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be great earthquakes, famines, and pestilences in various places, and fearful events and great signs from heaven.”
You can read more about these events in the books of Daniel and Revelation.
There Are Still Guardian Angels Among Us
When our dad died in a car wreck, I spent months agonizing over that day. Although we were assured he died right away and didn’t suffer, I kept picturing the what-ifs. What if he was suffering alone, dying alone, we weren’t there with him? However, a few months after he passed, a lady contacted Michelle on Facebook. She’d been trying to get a hold of us and finally found us. She was there that day! SHE STOPPED! She saw the wreck and stopped. She told Michelle he looked like someone's dad, so she felt a tug at her heart that she needed to stay with him! She wanted to assure us that he wasn’t alone. Oh, Thank You, Jesus! I still haven’t had the courage to go back there or to talk to her myself because I don’t know if I can relive it, but I am forever thankful for her, and I do think she was Heaven-sent and she was surrounded by angels when Daddy went to be with Jesus.
Matthew 25 36-40 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me. Then the righteous will answer Him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you? The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters mine, you did for me.’
Until then, let’s do better
I love people, and I want to see the good in everyone, but this ever-changing, social media, cancel culture world we live in now has us all on a struggle bus. Let’s stop being passive and stand up for the right things, take up for those who need help, and be warriors for the Kingdom of Jesus Christ.
Praying for our world,
Erica
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