The Good Samaritan Luke 10:30-37

I’m sure in every generation, in every era, we are always in need of more Good Samaritans, but, since I live in this generation, I can’t help but see how much we still need to look past our differences. We are just as in need of Good Samaritans today as the world ever was. This is not a post about the current American President, and is not meant as any kind of political commentary, I think of the talk given by Elder Kearon, (you can find it here) this was given in April 2016. This talk really affected me and touched many who heard it. You can tell where the thoughts of many of the leaders of the church lie when another person also talks about refugees in the same conference (to the relief society) this talk can be found here. This talk which sparked a website (Iwasastranger.lds.org) was titled I was a stranger, in its Sister Burton even brings up the story of the Good Samaritan. She emphasises Luke 10:37 

...Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise.

If we are to go and do likewise, that is be a good Samaritan, we have to be able to overlook each other’s differences and see our fundamental similarities, we can do this with the clothes we wear, the color of our skin, the tattoos and piercings we have and the religion we practice, or lack of religion. We are a people who have similarities. We can find common ground if we try to.

I am a pacifist, and about as un-nerdy as a person can be. I married a retired soldier for the Army, who is also a big nerd. I’m not sure a nerdy soldier is a common thing, but what I do know is that while our differences are stark, we love and appreciate each other. I am proud of my husband’s service, even if the idea of having a gun in our home makes me very uncomfortable. I enjoy watching my husband’s 6 ft. frame relax as he begins to enjoy playing a video game, or some other complicated game that I can’t follow. Life and Love should never be about how differences divide us, but how differences can enrich our lives, and how similarities can encourage connection.

The story of the Good Samaritan has many messages, one we should see is how the Savior wants us to be. Good, kind, thoughtful, travelling the extra mile, going out of our comfort zone to help another. When we turn others into our enemy because we do not understand them, or they look, talk, or believe differently than we do, we are missing an opportunity. An opportunity to become more like Christ, an opportunity to grow. We need to work on getting past our fears so we can tend to the needs of others. 

Sometimes our enemies are not our enemies

They are a friend we do not know,

They are our neighbor.