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Last week I promised to continue our exploration of how a Christian could engage in politics. I have that next post prepared, but in light of current global events - primarily in the United States and in Quebec - I've decided to put that politics discussion off for a week and share a story. This story took place in Iraq a couple of years ago. The city is not of utmost importance, but I believe it was in Basra. I heard it from a very wise teacher and I hope this story shapes us as we consider our personal responses to the turmoil in our world.

At the height of the violent clashes in Iraq there was one particular street of significant importance for controlling the city. It was a centre of violence. It was dangerous. Even for those who lived in the area and needed to use this road from time to time to travel or shop or do business, it was a treacherous road. In addition to the militants on both sides of the conflict there were several bands of opportunists who used the instability for their own gains. These bandits would, periodically, raid shops and attack local travellers in order to steal what they could.

One day a man, one of the Christian minority within the city, was travelling down the road on his way to visit his cousin and to do some business with him. It was under U.S. control at the time and there seemed to be no imminent threat of conflict, but the road was quiet because people never knew what threats might be around each corner. On this day, one of those threats surfaced. A gang of four men came out from an alley and beat him to within in an inch of his life. They stole the money he had for his business and left him to die - broken and bleeding in a pile against the side of a nearby building.

Within the hour a U.S. patrol vehicle came down the road - every soldier secured in their humvee or Cougar (mine resistant ambush protected vehicle). The first vehicle saw the man, however, they presumed him dead. Deciding he wasn't a security risk to the neighbourhood and that getting out of their vehicles would make them vulnerable to an attack the patrol moved on down the street.

Around fifteen minutes after the militarly patrol came through the street a civilian car ventured into the street. In the car was a group of missionaries who had come to encourage and support the Christian minority within Iraq. These young men were coming to the city to meet with a small church who, when the U.S. controlled the city were relatively save. But whenever control of the town shifted, the church faced uncertainty and persecution. Because of road blocks, this missionary group was about two hours late for their meeting. They had also been warned about this very road. As they made their way down the road they saw the beaten man against the side of the building, but they had no medical equipment to help him. They weren't familiar with the area so they didn't know where they could take him. They were concerned about their safety. And they were very late already. So they drove on planning on telling the church group about him when they got to their destination.

A few minutes later a small group of muslim women and children emerged into the street. Travelling together for the sake of safety, they were returning from doing some shopping when they encountered the beaten and unconscious man. Immediately they came to his aid. One of the women phoned her husband who came with a car. They used some of their purchase to begin to attend to his wounds, as they were able to. His identification was gone so they didn't know who to contact on his behalf, but carefully they worked as a community to load him into the car and drive him to the hospital. The man who drove him stayed with him for 48 hours waiting for the beaten man to regain consciousness. All the while they unsuccessfully sought to figure out who he was so they could contact his family. Eventually the driver had to return to his own family and to work. He paid the hospital for the care they had provided and additional funds, in advance, to ensure ongoing care until the man's family could be located. He left his cell phone number with the hospital staff and asked to be contacted if the victim woke up.

The teller of this story first shared it when he was asked a question. The question he had been asked was, "Who classifies as my neighbour, when the Bible tells me to love my neighbour as myself?" At the end of the story, the wise story teller asked which of these people - the U.S. military, the missionaries, or the muslim community - where the neighbour to this Christian man on the side of the road?

The answer was obvious. The ones who had mercy on the man were the true neighbours.

The wise teacher's instruction followed:  "Go and do likewise." (Luke 10:25-37)

May God give us strength and courage as we seek to love our neighbours in these turbulent times.