DO Nothing... or act?
Being a helping kind of human being
December 12 is Kenya’s Independence Day, one of the most important holidays in the country, when no one is expected to work. I had Just take a moment and think of someone stopped by our school (which we were renovatwaking up and going somewhere to wait for ing to start the girls’ boarding school in a few help without knowing whether or not he or she days) to pick up something on my way to the will get the help, nor when and how. Also think airport for my return trip to America. Only the of how that vulnerable individual feels when the help seems to finally be available – but still watchman was supposed to be there. But there they don’t get helped. While that is a scenario was an elderly shoeless woman with a young in the Bible, working with and for povertygirl (in torn clothes) just sitting on the ground. stricken people puts biblical incidences and When I asked them what they were doing, I miracles into perspective. was informed that they had been coming from In John 5: 2-7a, we read: “Now there is at time to time, hoping that they could meet me Jerusalem by the sheep market a pool, which is and explain their need for help with the girl’s called in the Hebrew tongue Bethesda, having five high school tuition. They had walked more Vincent Kituku porches. In these lay a great multitude of impothan five miles, one way. It was also evident they tent folk, of blind, halt, withered, waiting for the had not had anything to eat. moving of the water. For an angel went down at a certain season The problem was, the grandmother and her granddaughter into the pool, and troubled the water: whosoever then first after the had gone to the school several times and no one had helped troubling of the water stepped in was made whole of whatsoever them by just getting her information and passing it to me. That disease he had. inaction would have led a girl to languish in poverty for the rest “And a certain man was there, which had an infirmity thirty of her life. and eight years. When Jesus saw him lie, and knew that he had That is like one of many occasions that I have gone to my elbeen now a long time in that case, he saith unto him, ‘Wilt thou ementary school – that I left in 1974 and rarely visit – and still be made whole?’ The impotent man answered him, ‘Sir, I have no find someone who stops by regularly, hoping that I am there. man, when the water is troubled, to put me into the pool…’ “ There was a father of a high school boy who learned that I For most of us, it is unimaginable to think of how someone was in the country and went to the school each day, and when can suffer for 38 years, waiting for help. Then whenever that help seems to be available, someone else (who has somebody to he finally saw me, he broke down. Again, all someone had to do was get the man’s information, call or email me. But there help him/her to receive the help), gets it. was no one who did that. We sponsored his son and now he is The point is, help can be there, but only someone with a in university. helper can be helped. In most cases, our fellow human beings suffer because we When I go to Kenya, this biblical scenario is a reality that ocdo nothing. We don’t have to give tangible help. The fact is, curs repeatedly, breaking my heart each time. Only my driver and the owner of the place where I am going know when I will sometimes our greatest contribution is not material resources arrive. Not even my parents or our employees at Caring Hearts but any act that shows someone that we care. To care, we must High School know. My daily schedule is also unknown. be compassionate – and act. n By Vincent Kituku
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