Frank J. Buchman

Cowboy • Horseman • Writer

Helping Another Is Essential

Wonder why that car is stopped along the road?

Should we stop and help? We don’t have time. Somebody else will help. Look at all of those other people passing them up; we aren’t the only ones who didn’t stop. They have a cell phone, everybody does; they can call for help if they need something. It’s several people, and there are some capable men, they can take care of themselves.

Oh, their tire’s only flat on one side, and there are several able-bodied kids there to help. Their jack will work, and spares are never flat these days. They have a gas can, must be out of gas, who would be forgetful enough to not make sure they had enough gas? How dumb. What if they are just planning to rob us or something if we stop?

It’s not recommended to ever stop when another car is along the highway with the hood up. And, the excuses go on and on for not assisting a down vehicle. Not saying that these reasons might not all be sound in some cases, and sorrowfully even legitimate, but who really knows what the exact circumstances are?

Many people have helped us when we’ve had vehicle trouble. Likewise, we have given assistance to strangers in predicaments. The sad part is that more times than not, we’ve not offered aid, typically using one or similarities of the mentioned reasons.

Who has not had vehicle trouble at some time in their life when on a highway far from home? Who hasn’t run out of gas? Who has not had a flat tire and found out their spare was down or jack went kaput?

Of all the many tight spots we’ve been in during our many miles down the highway, some generous soul has always provided assistance.

Two of our “worst case” car trouble experiences come to mind. We had our 4X4 diesel pickup pulling a horse trailer break down near Oklahoma City, and another time our car went into a deep ditch during a severe blizzard.  Both times, the first vehicle by stopped and provided assistance, so we could get our own transportation again mobile.

We were set on getting 500 miles on a tank of gas when driving to judge an Illinois horse show. We made it that distance, but then we couldn’t find a station, so we stopped at a farm house where the farmer congenially helped a dumb cowboy. Several times, our jack wouldn’t work or the spare was flat and assistance appeared out of nowhere.

Never have any of those whove offered us help wanted to be paid. We always ask: “What do we owe you?” Sometimes we make them take something. In other cases, we’ve mailed a check later, or weve also shaken their hand, said thank you and let it go at that.

As difficult, and even dangerous, as it can be to help another in need, we must always do it. That is made clear by Jesus in Matthew 25:45: “I tell you the truth, when you refused to help the least of my brothers and sisters, you were refusing to help me.”

+++ALLELUIA+++

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