The Urban Trance

By David A. Sargent     Recently, Tim Elmore shared a quote from Dr. Daniel Goleman’s book, Social Intelligence: People on busy city streets worldwide are less likely to notice, greet, or offer help to someone else because of what has been termed the “urban trance.”  Sociologists have proposed that we tend to fall into this self-absorbed state on crowded streets, if only to gird against stimulus overloaded from the swirl around us.  Inevitably, the strategy requires a trade-off: we shut out the compelling needs of those around us along with the mere distractions.  As a poet put it, we confront the “noise of the street dazed and deafened.” *     A lawyer once asked Jesus, “Who is my neighbor?” Jesus told the following story in response to the question: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he fell into the hands of robbers.  They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead.  A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side.  So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side.  But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him.  He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine.  Then he put the man on his own donkey, took him to an inn and took care of him.  The next day he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper.  'Look after him,' he said, 'and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have'” (Luke 10:30-35 NIV).     Then Jesus asked the lawyer a question: “Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?"     The lawyer replied, “The one who had mercy on him.”     Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise” (Luke 10:36-37).     The reason the priest and the Levite did not stop to help may not have been what Goleman described as the “urban trance,” but the effect was the same: a man who needed help didn’t receive it.  Those who don’t try to help others in need are not “good neighbors.”     In addition to learning from Jesus’ Parable of the Good Samaritan about what it means to “love your neighbor as yourself,” consider the One who told the story.     When WE were “left by the roadside,” suffering the deadly effects of our sins, Jesus didn’t suffer from the “urban trance”; He saw us.  He didn’t “pass by on the other side” like the priest and the Levite.  Rather, He – like the Good Samaritan – came to us, to help us, so that we might be healed of our spiritual malady.     Jesus’ remedy for our sin required His death on the cross as payment for our sins (Ephesians 1:7).  “By His stripes we are healed” (1 Peter 2:24).  Through Jesus, we can be saved from our sins and receive the gift of eternal life (Romans 6:23).     God will save those who place their faith and trust in Jesus (Acts 16:30-31), turn from their sins in repentance (Acts 17:30-31), confess Jesus before men (Romans 10:9-10), and are baptized (immersed) into Christ for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38).  He will continue to cleanse from sin those who continue to walk in the light of His word (1 John 1:7).     Rather than having the “urban trance,” Jesus looked upon us with loving concern and came to us to meet our greatest need by giving Himself for us.     Won’t YOU accept His offer of forgiveness and eternal life?     Then, let’s see the needs of others and share the love of Christ with them.

- David A. Sargent, minister for the Church of Christ at Creekwood in Mobile, Alabama, is also the editor of an electronic devotional entitled "Living Water." To learn more about this excellent resource contact David via their website: http://www.creekwoodcc.org * Tim Elmore “The Unintended Consequence of an Overwhelmed Student.” August 12, 2015 - See more at: http://growingleaders.com/blog/the-unintended-consequence-of-an-overwhelmed-student/#sthash.SHWfuT8q.dpuf