|
A Salvation Army Parable
by G.J.Aszmies
The speaker at a Salvation Army Corps related
an experience from his past that truly became a parable for
me. He told of working in the social services in downtown
Toronto and overhearing (“because the walls were so thin you
could hear someone’s hair growing”) the interrogation of a
woman client in an adjacent cubicle by a “green” Lieutenant.
The storyteller felt very badly for the lady undergoing this
third-degree type of humiliation because he knew her difficult
circumstances. Before he could do anything to remedy the
situation, he heard a door slam and looked out to see the
woman heading toward the building’s front exit. He called her
by name but she didn’t stop so he followed her outside and
down the street. While his entreaties continued to be ignored,
he finally caught up with the lady sufficiently to put his
hand on her arm and beg her to come back. She turned to
vehemently express “how she hated everyone in the Salvation
Army” before spitting in his face and striding off. He raised
his arm and called after her - “I love you! … I love you!”
As I listened to this story, I was moved to tears and thus, I
pondered God’s message in my heart. During the previous week I
had struggled in my workplace with anger caused by pride.
Always working hard, I found it extremely difficult to
tolerate others who were slacking around me. Ephesians 6:7
tells us “work hard….all the time, as though working for
Christ”. Especially troublesome about these arrogantly
flaunted slothful practices was the indifference of the
supervisors. To the contrary, these people held me up to
ridicule because of my diligence. Like the woman in the
Salvation Army story, I felt frustrated, taken-advantage-of,
humiliated.
Perhaps you are in a situation that pricks your pride - your
boss doesn’t acknowledge the extra-mile effort that you have
been making; your spouse or family member doesn’t see the
numerous sacrifices that you have made on their behalf; there
seems to be such a pressure in your church to do the
“expected” - to give because others can afford it even when
your pocketbook is empty and your situation is desperate.
Unmet expectations create continual slights to leave you
devastated. Life just isn’t fair! Your back is against the
wall - there is no escaping the assault - no-one understands
who you are!
Later in the week the people of New Orleans and Biloxi were
crying out for help. Days had passed since Katrina had robbed
them of their livelihood, their homes, and yes, their dignity
because of misdirected evacuation procedures. It seemed that
no-one noticed or cared about their living conditions, their
humiliation and their desperation. They were poor and black so
they believed that discrimination was the reason that they
were being ignored. I wept openly for them. It was all about
acceptance! I heard the door slam once more; heard the “I hate
you” and felt the bitterness in the consequent action.
It’s wanting to be treated respectfully, accepted as a fellow
human being in compassion and understanding. It’s needing
kindness, sensitivity, an appreciation of who you are. But,
who are we? “The world ignores us, but we are known to
God.”(2Cor.6:9)
Do we blame God for those people who treat us badly, who judge
us by appearance or circumstances? Do we let their attitude or
lofty position affect our ideology? 2Cor.6:8 tells us that we
are to “stand true to the Lord whether others honour us or
despise us, whether they criticize us or commend us.” Like the
storyteller who overheard the women’s dilemma, Jesus overhears
each situation also. If we obtain our sense of identity from
Him, we will be able to handle the people who overlook our
value. “So use every piece of God’s armor to resist the enemy
whenever he attacks, and when it is all over, you will still
be standing up.”(Eph.6:13) We will recognize that helping hand
- that touch on our arm, and be able to hear His voice calling
out, “I love you!” “We are Christ’s ambassadors……receive the
love He offers you - be reconciled to God.” (2Cor.5:20)
Now, I have to speak to the people in authority, whether it be
in the workplace, the government, or the church. When you have
an opportunity or a responsibility to regulate, designate,
organize, or otherwise use your position to help someone, do
you flaunt your position instead by walking on others to lift
your own stature? Do you judge other’s circumstances or
appearance? Do you hold them up to ridicule by your
condescending attitude? Do you make them feel assaulted with
your insensitivity to them as a person of value? They will
lash out or run away in anger and humiliation unless they hear
Jesus calling out to them “I love you!”
The woman in the story heard Jesus. It was some weeks later
when the Salvation Army captain took a call from a tearful
soul who begged him to come and see her, whereupon she asked
his forgiveness. “For all who are led by the Spirit of God are
sons of God.” (Rom.8:14)
Whatever person we relate to in the story, let us choose to
know “who we are” in Jesus and to love like Him.
|
