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THE CZECH IS IN THE MAIL
JASON CHLAPEK
When someone is in need, it is customary to assist that person.
He or she could be a family member living with you, a nextdoor neighbor, a fellow church parishioner or a member of your civic club. The person in need could even be a friend who lives in another town or state.
Earlier this week, a post on a local social- media page sought assistance for a friend who lost a home in a fire. While the comment seeking help was on a Taylor community page, the person who lost their home lives in another state.
While the post may have been confusing for some viewers, in my opinion the person who made the plea didn’t do anything wrong. The poster was only trying to help a friend in need.
As a Christian, I feel called to lend a helping hand when necessary. While there are times when those who “need” assistance might take advantage of the situation, often there are more people who truly need assistance as opposed to those who are asking under false pretenses.
Losing a home in a fire is not a false pretense. That is a legitimate cry for help.
The key here is empathy. If I put myself in that person’s shoes, how would I feel?
Would I call for assistance or lose sleep wondering where my family and I were going to stay for the night? Would I worry about when or where our next meal was coming from?
While many of us are blessed to have roofs over our heads, clothes on our back and food on our tables, there are some who are less fortunate. They deserve to be clothed, fed and sheltered, too.
When it comes to helping someone in need, it shouldn’t matter if they’re in Taylor, Austin, out of state or even in another country. People in need are everywhere.
While times for many of us economically are tough, especially when the oil companies raise the price of gas, a little bit of assistance for someone in need can go a long way.
There’s nothing wrong with helping a neighbor.
Chlapek is the area editor of the Elgin Courier and Taylor Press. He can be reached at [email protected].
