A few weeks ago, I was going over the story of Kane and Abel. Kane, having been jealous of the attention his brother was getting for his sacrifices (I mean, what did he expect for cutting corners on the sacrifice!)decided that the only way to deal with it was to kill his brother Abel. So he does. Then God calls for the boys and says to Kane - "where is your brother?". To which Kane replies "Ummm - dunno, I mean is it my job to look after him - am I my brother's keeper?" It was said in the tone and attitude that someone says "are you serious?". The rest is what we say history! I learnt two things from that story, the first is YES - you are your brother's keeper. And second, of which I am going to talk about is who is my brother?
1) The stranger on the street - are you serious?
Yes. He is my brother and we are each other's keeper. Several years ago, I was driving my sister-in-law's car in the middle of down town Auckland. Already stressed out about driving through unfamiliar twists and turns called the highway, I slow and then come to a stop at an intersection - and the car dies. It died and left me in the middle of a busy intersection, with hundreds of super effecient drivers waiting, then beeping, then overtaking slowly so as to fit in the 'stare' at the ignoramus who dared to hold up the traffic with that kind of turn that if done in fast motion would cause whiplash.... So I sit there, I pray that a hole in the earth will swallow me and the car up! But just then a stranger, a man, that I do not even remember what he looks like, asked me if I was okay, preceeded to tow me to the side of the road past the next intersection, and then jump-started the car. He checked again to see if I was alright, and having seen that I was okay, in shock, but okay - proceeded on his way. Am I a stranger's keeper? Why not?
2) Your neighbour - are you serious?
Yes. My mother's chemotherapy slowly damaged her extremities, namely her nerve endings in her feet and her hands. As a relief to her, her blind and deaf neighbour would come over and massage my mother's feet and hands dedicating an hour of two to this task every other day in order to help lift the spirits of my mother - her neighbour. Are you your neighbour's keeper? Why not?
3) Your workmates - are you serious?
Yes. I have to admit some of the people that I work with are not people that I would particularly hang out or around with. But they are people that you and I spend more time with than we do with our own family. To be their keeper does not mean that I need to know their business - but it does mean that I should treat them kindly. Its not easy - but why not - be your workmate's keeper.
4) Your children & partner - absolutely yes!
As a co-creators of two other lives - my husband and I are the keepers of our children. Do I need to know everything about them - yes. It's not going to be realistic to know the total insides and outsides of my children but I will die trying to know where they are going to be at any given time of the day. All I can do is be my children's keeper and support those around me to do the same for them and theirs. I tell my children everyday that I love them so that the last thing that they remember if something was to happen to either of us - was my voice in love. I am the keeper of my husband - not the owner, or possessor but a keeper. Do I know everything about him? No. Do I have to know everything about him? It's probably safer that I don't. What I do need to know is that when we come home to each other that he knows that I have his back, and he knows that when he goes out the next day, he is never alone entirely! I am there with him. I am my children and my husband's keeper.
5) Your friends - are you serious?
Yes. I can be my friends keeper by supporting them in decisions that they are making for themselves and their family. I can be a keeper by listening to them tell their deepest darkest fears and their far-out dreams and aspirations. You can be your friend's keeper by providing a safe space for them to be themselves... Be the friend that brings light to other's lives and not the 'one' (because everyone has one)that adds burdens to others with every word in every conversation. Be a keeper by lifting those around you up!
Are your brother's keeper? Yes you are - to strangers, to your neighbours, workmates, family and friends. Try it this week and see how you go....
Yours in friendship
Mxox
This blog is a KEEPER :)
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