694

The other day I was driving to our church where I was going to a blessing service for a couple celebrating their 8^th anniversary. Their year has been roller coaster of tragedy and joy in which they lost their two-year-old son in a drowning accident and welcomed the birth of their 3^rd baby. I was joining others in our community to surround and pray for them.

As I turned onto the ramp to get onto highway 100 there was a woman, about 50 years old, standing holding a sign that just said 694. Here’s what went through my head:

• That woman needs a ride to highway 694.
• She’s probably crazy.
• She’s a woman and she doesn’t look dangerous so maybe I could take her and not risk being killed or robbed or raped.
• I’m already doing a good thing (really, a HOLY thing). I have to get to this service or people will be disappointed because I said I’d be there.
• How long would it take me to drive her to 694? That's a long ways away isn't it? WHERE on 694?
• Doesn't it go in a circle? What if I end up driving in circles endlessly for the rest of my life?
• Is this like the story of the Good Samaritan in the Bible?
• Am I like the priest that hurried by on his way to church?
• But did HE have a “legitimate” excuse like mine?
• Did they have dangerous mentally ill people in the Bible standing along the side of the road needing help or were they just safe, “ordinary” people?
• Does Jesus make exceptions to the “rule” of loving others? Like only when you don’t have another commitment or only when it’s clearly safe?

I drove past her with my questions swirling, and pulled into the church parking lot.