“So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone…” (Galatians)

The other day I was at a cafe with a mate when a woman walked in, sat down at a nearby table, and began crying. Not just crying a little bit either, but crying really hard. The big, gasping sobs sort of crying. I’ve rarely seen anyone so distressed in public.

I couldn’t help but wonder what had just happened to her. Perhaps she had broken up with her boyfriend or husband. Perhaps she had lost her job. Perhaps she had been told she had cancer, or perhaps someone close had just died. There was no way of knowing.

More importantly, though, I wondered what I should do? I thought of the scriptural words above, “do good to everyone”. How do you put that into practice, especially in the face of a stranger’s suffering? I tried to think about what I could say if I approached her. “Is everything ok?” seemed a stupid question. “What’s wrong?” seemed nosy. “Is there anything I can do to help?” seemed best, though perhaps a bit futile.

But in the end I said and did nothing. I guess I felt too shy to walk across the room and offer some comfort. Perhaps I was afraid the offer would be rejected. Perhaps I felt I should mind my own business. I feel unhappy with my response, though. Imagine if we were the sort of people who were constantly reaching out to others in their pain, always offering comfort and help to the suffering. Imagine if we had a reputation for doing such things. How might it change our city? What sort of opportunities might open up for us?