A trip to the front….4 November 2009

Many years ago I attended an RAF Benevolent Fund Boarding School, for sons of airmen killed in service.  Each Saturday, with no schoolwork to be done, we were free to play.  At about a quarter to eleven a bell would be rung outside the dining hall, which was a short distance from the main building.  We would all run to be as close to the front of the single file queue as possible, and only when we were all there would “elevenses” be handed out.

One Saturday, when I was about 11 or 12 years old, the bell rang out and we all ran as usual.  As we ran one of the boys just in front of me tripped and fell.  Without thinking I stopped, helped him up and dusted him down.  He had grazed a knee and hurt his hand but was otherwise alright.  We trotted up to the back of the queue and waited for “elevenses” to be handed out.  The master who was in charge called out “Will the Good Samaritan come to the front of the queue”.  It didn’t register that he meant me until someone pointed it out.  I felt a bit sheepish going to the front, especially getting a few words of praise from the master.  It didn’t seem like I had done anything particularly special, it was just natural, surely.

More recently I had the opportunity to pray with a man who had that very minute asked Jesus to come into his life.  I had no real idea what to say, but somehow the words came out.  Fifteen months later I was able to attend his wedding, having seen a notice inviting friends in a local paper.  He was pleased to see me and thanked me for coming and everything.  He didn’t need to, I was delighted to see him and his bride so obviously happy.

Two very different occasions, but in some ways very similar.  Just being able to help someone in a small way can be most rewarding, and not in a material way, but spiritually.  Don’t you get a bit of a “buzz” when you can be of service to others?

Lord let us not miss the opportunities we are given to assist someone when they need it.  What may be a small thing to us can be great to those in need, in whatever way it’s required.