GOOD SAMARITANS
On Sunday night we
experienced a tragic shooting here in Las Vegas. A 64-year-old man broke windows
in his room on the 32nd floor of the Mandalay Bay Hotel and began
shooting automatic weapons into a crowd gathered at a music festival across the
street. Young and old were either running
or getting down on the ground, trying to get
away from the horror. Updated sources report at least 59 deaths and at least 527 people
injured. Besides the many courageous people who were helping on the
spot, someone put up a page on Facebook where
people could respond to say they were okay.
When a friend directed me to the
page the next day, I saw that people were posting all kinds of ways they were
able to help. People waited in lines for 6 hours
to give blood; others offered their homes to friends and families of the
injured; several hotels offered rooms for free. Scores of people offered free
rides to and from the airport, and anywhere people needed to go. Counselors
offered free counseling for victims as well as family members and friends. There
was information on how to locate their loved ones. People offered financial
help, food, clothing, childcare, etc. It was and still is amazing to see how
everyone has rallied to help.
No one is
asking, “What religion are you?” “What nationality?” In this crisis, humans are
just helping other humans. I just read the list again before writing this article,
and I was thrilled to see that the offers and responses just keep coming. Tomorrow
Jane and I will go after work to deliver food money for people who’ve come here
to be with injured family members or friends, or the poor people who will have
to stay to be at memorial services for those they’ve lost.
What I’ve seen
in the past few days has restored my hope in humanity. God created all people with
compassion and the ability to do a kindness. It’s so good to see it.
In case you
haven’t read the parable of the Good Samaritan lately, I’ve included it here.
It would be a good one to read to your kids too.
And for those
of us who live here in Las Vegas, the trauma is not over. People will need our
help for weeks to come. Keep praying. The Lord will show us to pray for
specific things. And let’s be alert to traffic because people will be working long
hours and will be tired and maybe extra grumpy too. Also, I heard that the need
for blood in the upcoming days and weeks would continue, and the need for physical
things as well. So let’s not forget about it.
Luke 10: 25-37:
“And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted
him, saying, Master, what shall I do to
inherit eternal life?
He said unto him, What is
written in the law? how readest
thou?
And he answering said,
Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and
with all thy strength, and with all thy
mind; and thy neighbour as thyself.
And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this
do, and thou shalt live.
But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus,
And who is my neighbour?
And Jesus answering said, A certain man went down from
Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his
raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. And by chance
there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on
the other side.
And likewise a
Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the
other side.
But a certain Samaritan, as he
journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him, and
went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on
his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him.
And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two
pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and
whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee.
Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves?
And he said, He
that shewed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise.”
Love, Carolyn
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