Article April 19, 1993 Issue

Lifting up

The Christian Science Monitor

Recently, not far from here, a man inadvertently rode his horse into a marsh, where it became mired. All his efforts to free the animal proved ineffective, so a fire engine was called, and a rope attached to the saddle got the poor beast out. The firefighters even helped by hosing down the muddy rider.

No one would have advised the engine to back into the marsh next to the horse and try to help from there. It had to remain on solid ground to be of use. And so do we.

Sometimes we are invited to join someone in the mud and try to be of use there. Friends angry over perceived injustice, for example, may wish for us to join in their anger. Or someone involved in a mistake may desire us to participate. But to be truly helpful, we need to resist such appeals. We help by lifting.

Send a comment to the editors

We'd love to hear from you!

Easily submit your testimonies, articles, and poems online.

Submit

Lifting up

We'd love to hear from you!

Sign up for unlimited access