“I'll never understand why you decided to open an inn on this god-forsaken roadway!”, Judith complained for the hundredth time, “There's nothing but trouble and troublemakers here!”
“That's exactly why this inn is needed”, Seth explained for the hundredth-and-first time. “Good people need a safe place to escape the night when traveling between Jericho and Jerusalem.”
“Good people! You show me 'good people'! I heard you talking with that Samaritan last night. What good people are going to stop here if they know you give shelter to dogs like that? And who, or what, was that bundle of rags you both carried from his filthy donkey onto one of our beds?”
“That bundle is a good person! (I think, he hasn't woken up yet.) And that is the reason this inn is so needed! That poor man, a fellow countryman; by the way, fell victim to some of the bandits who roam this highway and would have likely died alongside it if that 'dog', as you call him, hadn't brought him here!”
Judith was surprised. “A Samaritan did that? For one of our own? Why? What does he want? Does he think we'll reward him? I'm not giving away my hard-earned money to every half-breed who shows up doing a good deed!”
“I don't know why,” replied Seth, who was just as confused. “I never would have expected it from someone like that either, but he didn't ask for anything except to sleep near the one he brought in. He paid for the room and even gave me a generous amount of money for the man's care. Look!”, Seth said, opening his bulging money pouch and showing his wife more coins than it had ever held before. “And he says there's more where that came from if it's not enough to fully care for the man. He's planning to stop by again on his way out of town.”
Startled, Judith quickly looked over her shoulder to see if any of the guests were watching. “Put that away before someone sees and you become the next victim!” Then in a quieter voice, “Do you think we can trust him? Will he come back with more money or with more thugs and rob it right back from us? We should hide it! We could close down this inn and use it to buy a nice little place in Jerusalem; cozy and safe...”
Judith was soon lost in visions of the home of her dreams.
Reluctant to end his wife's reverie, Seth gently touched her shoulder. “I think we have to trust him, he said. “I've already sent word to Dr. Luke to come and take a look at the man. I can't explain it, but there was something about that man, Samaritan or not, something in his eyes that made me know I can trust him. That he will be back; though I don't know when. I have the strangest feeling that this isn't really about us; or even about that poor man who was beaten to within an inch of his life! People are people, Judy. We need to be thankful that God places those who are compassionate on our paths no matter what they look like or believe. To care for them no matter who their ancestors are.
See the biblical story in Luke 10:29-37
Beautifully written Sherry! Such a great reminder to be thankful for all the people God puts on our path!