Risk

At Sojourn on April 6, Rick spoke on Luke 10:25-37.

This story starts out as a conversation between Jesus and a scholar of Hebrew Law about how to inherit eternal life. The scholar reported that the culmination of the law was, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind'; and, 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'" This conversation climaxed when the scholar asked, "Who is my neighbor?" Jesus grabbed the opportunity to tell a story, "A Jewish man was traveling on a trip from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he was attacked by bandits."

I have wonder out loud, or at least through this blog, "Why in the world would this guy choose to take this trip alone?" This was a dangerous road from Jerusalem to Jericho; a road where convoys, caravans grouped together so they would not travel alone. The locals named it "the bloody road." Why would he choose to do this journey alone? Was he a part of a larger community or was he excluded? And is that why he couldn't find anyone to take this trip with him? Wasn't it a huge risk to take this trip alone. Or, possibly he didn't ask for anyone to come with him, didn't ask for anyone to help. I have to wonder, isn't the greater risk, admitting that we need help and can't do life alone?

I know that I can't do life alone.