Pastor's column
Published Friday, September 5, 2008
Greg Hayek
The car was traveling down the Interstate about 70 miles per hour. We were headed to a birthday gathering for a family member. Suddenly, a sporty vehicle pulled in front of us crossing over several lanes of traffic.
Instantly I stepped on the brake as I am blocked from passing the slower vehicle I thought I was going to be passing. Just as instantly I was less than happy with the driver of that sporty vehicle that pulled out in front of me.
A couple of choice words were uttered under my breath towards the driver of the rude vehicle.
How hard it is to overcome that little action of rudeness with good?
How therefore, can it be possible for us to overcome significant acts of evil with good?
God's word tells us to overcome evil with good. When the Bible directs us in this way, strength to do so is available for us. God helps us to feed our hungry enemy and give something to drink to the thirsty enemy. We don't have to do it all on our own.
One of the largest acts of kindness was done following World War II.
This act of feeding the hungry enemy and giving drink to the thirsty allowed an entire continent to come back to life.
The love shown in Europe and Japan was extraordinary. It stands out in human history as one of the most significant acts of charity in all history.
What does this say to us today? Another hurricane has hit the Gulf Coast in Louisiana and Texas. Others are taking aim both in the Gulf and on the Atlantic coast.
They are going to need our help as they did three years ago. May we have the strength of conviction to sacrifice ourselves for the benefit of those we've never met.
We are called to be sincere in love and live in harmony with one another. Helping our neighbor, whether local or across the country or world, is living in harmony with one another.
Greg Hayek is the chaplain at the Minnesota Veterans Home-Fergus Falls.
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