Guest Post by Beth Somerton Young. I am a lifelong scripture-reading, faithfully serving, follower of Christ.” I was raised in a large, Methodist family in Portland, Oregon. My five siblings and I were well-educated in social awareness, civic engagement, and defending the downtrodden, by our economically-challenged, Democratic parents. I am a US Army veteran, I’ve run for the Idaho legislature, I’ve served in many church “leadership” and teaching positions. My husband and I have three adult children. I am dedicated to passage of Equality Amendments.

I was recently asked to speak in Sacrament along with a newly returned missionary. She and I agreed ahead of time that our talks would simply be “It’s All About Jesus.”

She shared stories of serving in New Hampshire and Paris, France. It was lovely and loving and All About Jesus.

I shared that if we are going to keep sending out missionaries that we have got to make this a church worth joining. We have so much going for us in the vast structure of our church, but there is much we can do to make people truly comfortable when they join. For one thing, when you meet a new person at church, don’t trot out your tired, old pioneer cred. It’s irrelevant to their journey in the church, to their relationship with the Divine, and becomes boring to them in a New York-minute. Knock that off. Converts care about their ancestors, not yours. As members, we must keep it all about Jesus and His Gospel message if we are to really share the beauty of what we have.

The Parable of the Good Samaritan. We’re all familiar with this parable. But I’d like to take the usual telling a step further for deeper understanding. First, There are five archetypes in this story.

1. The man beaten, robbed, and lying by the side of the road,
2. The attackers doing the beating and robbing.
3. The “certain priests” that saw the man in distress by the side of the road.
4. The Good Samaritan who stops to help; physically binding wounds, offering time to take the man to a place of safety, and paying an innkeeper to keep providing help and sustenance.
5. The innkeeper who took further care of the beaten traveler.

At different times in our lives, each one of us will be have experiences being each one of those archetypes/characters.

When we are beaten down, in any way; physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually, socially, or financially, it’s desirable to stop in the road and let your needs be known. Ask for help, then graciously accept the help that is offered. Breathe. Meditate on the circumstances. Utilize the assistance that’s been offered to heal. Jesus has got you! Look to Him. Ask. There is healing and comfort through Him.

When we are on the attack it is imperative to look to the Savior and ask, “Why am I lashing out? What is the threat to me that causes me to react like this? Am I judging someone’s needs as less important than my own? Will I survive without being in attack mode? Is this what Jesus would do?

If we are in the archetype of the “certain priests,” are we ignoring the needs of other people because they are not of our kind? Too often many of us will cling to our perceived safe bubble provided by homogeneous neighborhoods, congregations, schools, civic groups, and workplaces. In doing so, we may become blind to the plight of people who are shut out of opportunities that we take for granted. We may be voting for candidates who fight social justice, instead of FOR social justice. We may be fearful that if some other group gains, we must lose. The Lord hasn’t put into a zero-sum world. There is plenty for all IF we let go of the fear.

When we act in the archetype of the Good Samaritan we will have our eyes open to what is going on around us. We will drop our fear and prejudices at a moment’s notice. We will offer service of what is needed according to the one in need. We will avoid seeking acclaim for our good works.

The Innkeeper archetype requires a willingness to be of further service for as long as is required. Please, especially women, take note that the innkeeper did NOT volunteer his services. He was compensated. He was running a business and wouldn’t have been able to stay in the business of offering hospitality if he hadn’t accepted payment. Just like the innkeeper, value what you do enough to require support that allows you to keep doing good works. Kudos to the Good Samaritan for understanding that the Innkeeper was running a business, not a charity.

As we refine our interactions with other people and other groups, may be all be aware of which archetype we are representing and adjust accordingly. I recall back in the 80s, many people were wearing rubber wristbands that read “WWJD?” meaning, What Would Jesus Do? That’s a pretty simple concept, but can be challenging in daily life.

I’m excited that this year (2023) we will be studying the New Testament, which to me is the best place to learn of Christ and his behavior during His earth-life. We will see that He was a Social Justice warrior, calling out kings and priests who were corrupt and abusive. We will see that He hung out with those in the margins. He’d offer help in ingenious, thought provoking ways. He took time for self-care, even to the point of going away from people for forty days to get His head on straight and to prepare for continued service and sacrifice. We will be reminded that while hanging on the cross He was concerned about taking care of His mother and followers. We may not have His capacity to do those things at all times and in all things and in all places, but we can remember that that was His role, not ours.

He asked that we Come Follow Me. So in reviewing what He did in life, we have a guidebook. Doing our best is all that is required, and that will look different from time to time and in various seasons. Don’t ever beat yourself up about not being good enough or doing enough. When we do that we are stepping into the archetype of the Attackers.

In conclusion, I’d like to share a snippet from a song from the rock opera, Godspell.

Day by day, day by day,
Oh, dear Lord, three things I pray.
To see thee more clearly.
To love thee more dearly.
To follow thee more nearly,
Day by day by day by day by day.