Hey Mister, Can You Give Me a Hand?

Because sometimes, we can all use an extra hand.

In one of my earlier posts, I told about an infant who died in my arms from malnutrition at a refugee camp. The experience left me devastated, but also deeply angry. I was angry at my species that we allow such things to happen, but I was even angrier at my God. “Why didn’t you do something to prevent this child’s death?” I angrily shouted this question over and over, but it wasn’t until I calmed down enough to listen that I found the answer. As clearly as if someone was talking to me, I heard these words, “I am doing something; I sent you to be my heart and my hands in that camp to help those children.”

I felt chastened and humbled, but I also learned the most important lesson in my life. I can change things in world. I can say yes when someone needs help. I own enough stuff, actually too much stuff, so I can put my efforts into saying yes, I can help you. Sometimes I allow myself to get over-yessed, and my dearly beloved reins me in, and friends tell me I need to learn what the word no means, but I quickly recover from their gentle reminders.

Which brings me to the point of this story. A couple of days ago, one of the machines on the volunteer project I am helping with ran out of fuel, so I shot over to our local Chevron and filled a couple of fuel cans. As I loaded them in my vehicle, I noticed a guy in a pickup truck trying to jack it up the to replace a flat tire. I just happened to have a battery powered impact driver to remove the lug nuts, so I volunteered to help him.

“Hey buddy, could you use an extra hand?” His back toward me, he raised his arms and I immediately saw that he had only one hand.

“Sure,” he said with a chuckle.

Although I am sure he could do it himself, he was so happy I stopped to help. We quickly sorted the tire situation and he was ready to go. Before he left, he thanked me for being a Good Samaritan. I told him I wasn’t really a good Samaritan, probably just an okay one.

What I didn’t tell him was that a long time ago, when I was really angry at my God for not doing something and He told me He was doing something; He was sending me to be His heart and hands, and I was simply doing what I was told to do

And the man with the flat tire really did need an extra hand.

Whatever our faith or lack thereof, the world could be quickly changed for the better if all people of good will were ready with their hands and hearts when we hear a call for help.

Addendum: to a person, my friends think my question to that guy was the dumbest thing I ever said. I thank you all for your unanimous vote for what just might be my career best.