When I asked my daughter what her favourite bible verse is, she picked a story; The Good Samaritan. It is a bible story that both my children loved as wee ones. It is easily understandable, and still very relevant in today’s society. We might not think about Jews and Samaritans, but say Catholic and Protestant, Rangers/Celtic, local and incomer and you get the point. Throw in Brexit with the leave and remain camps, never mind independence referendums and you can see why this story still speaks to us today. In the story, it was the most unlikely individual who stopped to help the wounded man by the side of the road. The person asking the question ‘who is my neighbour?’ was educated, respected and wealthy. The wounded man who was robbed was also educated, respected and wealthy. Any of us can end up in trouble at some point in our lives when life throws us a curveball. Help can come from unlikely sources, and an answer to prayer might be someone you don’t see eye to eye with. And there are times when you have to lay down prejudice or fear, and help another. When we are asked ‘who is my neighbour?’ we aren’t just talking about those who are like us, but those who are not like us. As you travel around this summer whether on a staycation or heading for other shores, look not for what makes us different, but for what makes us neighbours. Maybe, just maybe, we might start to live as a global community, in peace and harmony. And nobody will just pass by on the other side of the road. God bless.
