There was a young man in my new community among the Chin people who needed help. It was going to take quite a large sum of money to do what was needed. I was riding along to help with translation. Within minutes of getting the call someone placed the money in my hands for safe-keeping. I was astonished. I asked my friend – what is the process when something like this happens? How do you decide if you are going to help or not? You see I am bit jaded by life. He did not understand the question – not because he didn’t understand English but because he didn’t understand the concept.
Apparently the process is that everyone pitches in without question. It is assumed that if there is a need it will be filled. It is understood that the receiver will eventually repay the givers. No question. At this point in the conversation I am pretty sure that my face registered the same confused look as that of my friend earlier.
I continued to ask – What if you know that the person you were going to help was someone who would take advantage of the situation? “We would help. It is an urgent need.”
What if you know that the person is an alcoholic? Or worse? “We would help and hope that they will take the kindness as a chance to set their lives on the right path.”
What if you didn’t have the money to help? “The money always comes.”
What if…? What if…? I am sure I asked him a bucketful of what ifs – all the ones that I have asked myself. All the ones that I have heard friends ask. All the ones that I have heard churches ask. By the end of this conversation I came to the realization that we can always find a reason not to reach out, not to help if we ask enough “what ifs.”
What I learned today is that some people trust people who have not yet proven themselves trustworthy. And the payoff is not broken trust, as we tend to suspect, but rather there is more trust. Trust begets trust. A foreign concept? Definitely not one that we tend to operate under.
Acts 2:42 – 45 says “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need.” Did you see it?
One word makes all the difference in this passage. One word. “Anyone.” To give to anyone who had need. No what ifs. No questions.
There have been many moments along my path when I have felt at home in this new family of people. Today I think I understand why. I have nothing to prove. I am accepted just as I am. It is a rare thing. Kind of like what the kingdom of God should be I think.