CONLEY COMMENTARY (WSAU) – I’m a Christian. I consider myself to be a good person. And I’m amazed at how often I fail to do the right thing.
A week ago Saturday, I was at the gas station. I was fueling up before doing my errands that morning. I went inside for a coffee.
Inside the store, there was someone passed out drunk on the floor. I looked over. “Don’t mind them,” the store clerk said. Apparently they’d been hanging around the store all night, drinking. And now they were literally passed out drunk. “The police have been called. They’ll be here soon.”
So I did… nothing. I bought my coffee, got back in my car, and drove off. An ambulance was arriving as I was leaving.
What should I have done? Obviously, I should have gone over to the person and offered comfort. “Hi, I’m Chris. Are you okay. Help is coming. I’ll stay here with you until they arrive.” That would have taken only a few minutes. But… I was too busy. Helping seemed messy. I failed.
Now suppose another situation: the alleged gang rape at Cornell University. There were dozens of fraternity members at the house where the illicit sexual activity took place. Are are connected via group chat – all of them knew what was going on upstairs. Yet not one of them thought about the immorality of it. Not one of them thought to up upstairs and put a stop to it.
I know that doing the right thing is often uncomfortable. Those who call ourself Christ followers need to rise to the occasion… and make a plea for forgiveness when we fall short.
Chris Conley
Comments