Today's Spiritual Message: Go and Do Thou Likewise

This is straight out of my journal:

Where to begin. I can’t really think of anything to remarkable yesterday other than the usual run of the mill.

However, when my wife and I went to the MTC, they had so many volunteers and, considering my wife’s pregnant condition, I decided we would simply head back home and give her some time to rest.

As we left, however, a gentleman approached us (from his dress and manner of speech, I could tell that he was obviously and employee of the MTC) and asked if we had any jumper cables. We had driven the Matrix (it’s easier to put CDs in its front seat area rather than the trunk of the Accord) but I was doubtful that we had any.

Feeling rather doubtful, I opened the back end, searched around and then rummaged around in the back (middle, really) seat but all to no avail. The result of the experience was a sort of, “Sorry, ole chap, but we haven’t got any.” Regrettably, we got in the car and started to drive off. I don’t know why, but I wish I had done more, wish I had searched harder, or maybe even alerted somebody from Wymount. Regardless of what I could have or should have done, it felt depressingly wrong to leave the young man there, with no more help from us than a wisp of clouds. I know it’s certainly not the end of the world, but I can’t help looking back on the experience and thinking of the scripture:

Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.

Some would say my concern is unwarranted, but I can’t help wondering what I would feel like had the situation been the other way around. How easy it is for us to say, like the Levite, passing the beaten man on the highway, “I’m late and can do nothing for this man.” Yet, after explaining the parable of the Good Samaritan, the Savior exhorted the man who asked the question, “And who is my neighbor?” to go and do thou likewise.