“Where are ya headed?” I asked the young man who had just climbed into the front seat of my old pick-up truck. He shook his head for a moment like he had to think about it, then said, “I am trying to get to Denver but wherever you are heading as long as it is west will do.” I nodded and said, “Ok, I can take you as far as Wendover, Nevada. I am working there. I am sure you can pick up a ride from there.” It was his turn to nod, but he said nothing. That was ok with me.
I usually did not pick up hitch-hikers but for some reason I had stopped along I-80 to give this guy a lift. Maybe it was because he was out in the middle of nowhere and that bothered me or maybe I just felt generous that day. I chuckled a bit at that thought and that seemed to bring him around.
Turning to look at me, he said, “Life has been pretty bad lately. I was just thrown out by my girlfriend and she has kept all our stuff.” He then referred to her with a nasty word and fell silent again. I really had nothing to respond to what he had said so we drove for another 20 miles in silence.
I was getting dry and, so I pulled a bottle of whiskey out from under my seat and took a pull off it. Once I was done, I offered it to him. He shook his head and waved his hand as if to ward off what I was offering. “No, no man. I never touch the stuff anymore. That is how I got in trouble in the first place.” I nodded an ok and said, “That’s good, leaves more for me.” And I took another pull.
I could see he was staring at the bottle with longing eyes and I could almost see his mouth watering. I knew I should put the bottle away and not tease or tempt this guy. But I thought, “It’s his tough luck. If he can’t drink, that ain’t my problem.” So, I kept the bottle out and placed it between my legs as I drove the arrow straight highway toward Nevada.
All at once he grabbed at the bottle and with shaking hands yanked it from between my legs, almost knocking my hands off the steering wheel. Once he had it, the cap flew off as he took three big gulps. I could see his eyes water as the booze hit the back of his throat and burn its way down. Finally, I said, “Are you happy now!” Almost crying he said, “Man, that was cruel. You saw how much I wanted that and you just left it there to drive me crazy!” I replied, “Listen, dude, you’re in my truck, in my world. “I ain’t your keeper. Get a grip and give me back my bottle.” He was crying now as he took another long pull, mumbling to himself, “Cruel, man cruel….”
Am I my brothers keeper? I think that this is the center of most of the debate that goes on in the world today. How do we as a people and as individuals relate to those around us. It seems like in our society and world the people we see as ‘brothers’ are the ones most like ourselves. I know most of my life I saw no need to treat anyone like a brother or a sister. I really had accepted the idea that it should be the survival of the fittest. And when you believe that, there can be no brother, sister, friend or even family.
But there is another way of living that was taught by the man who said this, “For the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and give His life as a ransom for many.” (Matthew 20:28) This way of life turns that evolution theory on its head because the man who said this was more than a man, he was the Son of God.
So, think about it God says, “I came here to become your servant and to die to save you.” And if you truly believed this and started living like the Son of God, Jesus, how would that affect the way you treat your brothers or sisters? How could it change you and change me?
For my part, I have found an answer to that when I accepted transformation and salvation through the cross of Jesus Christ. The thing is when you see life from the foot of the cross everything gets turned upside down. A favorite author of mine puts it this way “The transforming power of Christ’s grace molds the one who gives himself to God’s service. Imbued with the Spirit of the Redeemer, he is ready to take up the cross, ready to make any sacrifice for the Master. No longer can he be indifferent to the souls perishing around him. He is lifted above self-serving.” (Ellen G White, Testimonies to the Church, Vol. 7, Pg. 9) Through Christ and His sacrifice we are lifted above “me first”. Being our brother’s keeper becomes not just a good work we do on weekends but a way of life. No longer I living but Christ living in me. Do think this could change the world you live in?
Years ago, I had no care about being that young mans keeper. In my way of looking at life, he had his problems and I had mine. I let him off at a truck stop in Wendover, like I said I would. By that time, he saw so drunk he could barely walk and so sad he could only cry. I was glad to be rid of him. Today I am so sad thinking about that day. I do not know what happened to him, but I know I made his life worst. I can only pray he found his way and someone who had the love of Jesus helped him. If he reads this, as I do so often on these pages, I can only say I am sorry. My prayer today is that we will all find that being a keeper of others is not a burden, but the joy of sharing the love given freely by the grace of God. May we all share that free gift. What a world that would be!
Blessings John
12/8/17