By Bethaney Butler

This morning started out like any other morning. I woke up a little before 7 am, took my shower, got ready for work, made my iced coffee in my to-go cup and headed out the door.  As I turned the corner off my street onto the cross street that would take me to the main road and into town, I saw a small crowd of people on the side of the road.  There was also a car pulled off in front of the crowd.  As I pulled up, I noticed someone lying on the ground.

Seeing the car, I thought maybe the car had hit her.  I pulled off to the side and asked a bystander what had happened. She informed me that they found this lady passed out, blood on her clothes and face swollen from probably being assaulted, possibly raped, who knows.  I sat there in shock, not really knowing what to do.  As I glanced back at the crowd, a Papua New Guinean woman looked sternly at me and then motioned me to go on, as if to say, “This is not your problem and none of your business.” This disturbed me deeply. A few moments later that lady turned and walked away.

Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. The next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’ “Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?” The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.”  Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”   Luke 10:30-37

I finally got out of the car. I was not going to walk away. I went over and joined the crowd, which seemed to have doubled in size.  I asked a few more questions.  The victim was not responding to anything.  She was still breathing though. I told the crowd that I was willing to take her to the hospital. I sensed an overwhelmingly unwillingness to help.  They started saying that she had probably been drinking and essentially brought this “heavy” (burden) on herself.  I stopped the crowd before they could hurl more insults her way. I said, “I don’t care what she did last night, or what happened to cause this, but right now, she is hurting, she needs help, and I’m going to help her.  Now you all can stand around or you all can help me get her into my car so that I can take her to the hospital.” There was silence. Then a few people helped me put her into my car.

I took her and dropped her off at the hospital.  I have no idea who she is, where she is from, where she lives, or if she is married and has a family. I don’t know, but God knows.  God knows her name, he knows how many hairs are on her head, he knows her heart.  He loves her.  She needed help. Christ’s love compelled me to help her.

Bethaney serves in many areas, one being in logistics.