Low Gas and Jumper Cables

Say a friend calls you and explains that their car battery died, and asks if you’ll come drive ten minutes to jump them… do you go?  Say a real good friend calls and has the same things to say… do you go?  Most people would say yes, and get on their way to help as soon as they could.  And, if someone walked up to you on the street and pointed to their car and asked for a jump, would you help them out?  They’re a complete stranger, after all.  Again, most people would help if they were able to.  But what if the person who called you, or walked up to you, wasn’t a stranger, and wasn’t really a friend, but someone who you just really didn’t like at all.  In fact, you disliked them so much that whenever their name is brought up in conversation, you instantly get into a little bit of a mood and a scowl creeps across your face.  Do you help them?  Or do you make an excuse because you’re low on gas, and it’s a long drive that you can’t afford to make.  Do you say you’re busy?  Do you say you’re not in the area and wouldn’t be able to make it in a decent time?  Or do you swallow your pride and just go help the person?  Even if they did something horrible to you, and you somehow see them as the enemy… do you go?

Tonight I got a phone call from a good friend.  She and her boyfriend were stuck down at the Lakefront in Kissimmee and her car wouldn’t start.  The silly part of me feels honored that she would think to call me and ask me for help, and the rational part of me pegs it down to she called others, and then thought of me.  Whatever the actual reasoning for her calling me, it got me thinking.  Had she been a friend from the past who I never even talk to anymore, would I go and help her?  Had she been the person that hurt me the most in my life, would I go and help?  Since she’s not these people, what if she was more than a ten minute drive… would I still go, or would I complain about gas and time?  Would I argue that I don’t even have jumper cables?

To be completely honest, I think I would feel guilty about leaving someone stranded like that.  As much as I dislike the person who hurt me the most, as much as I dislike and don’t talk with people from my past, and no matter how far… I would grab my keys and get in the truck.  And if I needed gas, I would do some digging to get some cash for enough for the trip.  I’m not trying to make myself look good, okay?  This isn’t the first time I’ve gone out of my way to help someone, and I hope it won’t be the last.  I love helping people and being there for them, and I think that stems from my love for Christ.

I feel like I’m talking myself up.  Maybe I just need to shut up and stop talking completely…

But really…. are any of you people out there willing to go out of your way for someone who you don’t even really like?  I pray God gives you the chance to see, and I pray He gives me the chance, too.

Love.