[November 2004 journal entry]
After a recent conversation with a high school teacher/friend, he wrote – “ . . . A subject was brought up that I would like to ask your help in probing further. I think I heard you say once that we should be present in a way that honors our past and at the same time respects our neighbor. Will you help me develop that idea? I am thinking that it just might be where I am most static at this point.” I responded by e-mail as follows --
“ . . . Three texts came to mind as I read your note – i.e., the Good Samaritan story (Lk. 10:25-37), the ‘love your enemy’ text (Mt. 5:43-48), and the ‘sheep/goats’ parable (Mt. 25:31-46). The Good Samaritan story raises a crucial question about what might be called the life situation for which I consider myself accountable. The ‘love your enemy’ text exerts significant pressure against the tendency to restrict my life situations to individuals most like me, to individuals friendly to me, to individuals who will not threaten me (philosophically as well as physically). The ‘sheep’/‘goats’ parable proposes what to me is the most radical approach to how/who to be in ‘the world’ in that the parable detaches a life of caring from any ulterior, self-serving, or deity-driven motive. I try to remain true to the resolve to keep my ‘aim eye’ on and in search for individuals for whom life is hard, tragic, broken, deprived. A corollary to this resolve is that I must be ready/able respectfully to put at risk (including losing) any association or idea – past or present – that would distract from or in other ways discourage the resolve.