A Ride on the Other Side…

Tents of Mercy Congregation

Kiryat Yam, Israel

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For we do not have a high priest who is

unable to sympathize with our weaknesses,

but we have one who was tempted

in every way that we are, yet was without sin.

Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence,

so that we may receive mercy and

find grace to help us in our time of need.

(Hebrews 4:15-16)

Most of us in our everyday lives tend to “stay in our own lane.”

When you have the chance to take a ride on the other side - it is sometimes surprising the things that you see. But how often do we really stray from the automatic pathways that make up our everyday lives?

This summer I have had the chance to step out of my regular routine and see some scenes that I don’t normally witness.

My recent rides on the other side

A few months ago, we found ourselves as a family near one of the most luxurious neighborhoods in Haifa. Just for fun, we drove through some of the streets, looking at the gorgeous houses and their sea view, oohing and aahing, pointing out special entryways and fancy cars. As we returned home, the GPS navigator took us, via a different route, through another small town. It was notable and strange to pass through what was clearly an area of underprivileged population in government housing so very close to the fancy neighborhood we had just toured.

This week, with my car in the garage, I wound up riding on the “Metronit” - one of the public transportation options which offers straight-shot kind of bus lines on the main roads from one town to the next. I don’t often have the chance/need to ride on public transportation like I once did. (Our children do use the Israeli public transportation system and, in my opinion, it’s quite convenient.)

Many elderly were on the bus that I rode on. Recently a law was passed that public transportation over age 75 is free. I was glad for them that they had the option, but couldn’t help feeling sorry for them as they went through the tiring efforts of getting on and off, electronic payment and then finding a seat - with their shaky limbs. I tried to imagine my parents riding and felt even more sympathy and even worry for the senior citizens, many of them new immigrants, who were with me on the bus.

Abruptly, about 15 minutes into the ride the bus driver had to brake and suddenly I heard a loud THUD behind me. I turned around to see that an old man had lost his balance, flew across the bus and knocked into the door. He had apparently stood up to prepare to get off at the next stop, lost his balance and fallen, knocking over another not-quite-as-old man; and they both fell to the floor! From my seat in front of them, I mentally calculated if I should jump up to help. Two young men were closer and quickly came to their aid - helping them up and setting them straight on the chairs and helping them gather their scattered belongings. When the old man stood up he was disoriented and had a lump on his head. The young men helped him get off at the next stop, and I couldn’t help feeling guilty over not being able to do more to help. The old man took his shopping cart and walked feebly across the bus station platform.

It was a jarring experience and made me think about how there is a whole other side, a world of people that I don’t often see or interact with.

Do human leaders really sympathize?

In November, we are again facing elections after only a year and five months of the current government. That is the 36th government of modern Israel in only 74 years and is due to the delicate nature of our parliamentary coalitions. As in every society, the politicians jockey amongst themselves to show the voting public how much they supposedly know and understand the problems that the common citizens are facing.

It seems an impossible task, trying to assess which politician to vote for, which one has a good chance to put together a government, which one will have the guts to do what needs to be done to steer our country in the right direction and the integrity to stand up for their convictions, even in the face of corruption. And as we watch our own political and national scene with concern, we are also painfully aware of the political unrest, social injustice and war that continues to rage in other national arenas. It’s safe to say politicians everywhere should focus less on their re-election and more on the everyday existence of the “little guy.”

We, as believers, should also increasingly sympathize with the difficult stories in the lives of people around us - whether family members, neighbors, friends, congregation members or even strangers in our path.

God humbled Himself

The Bible explains how God came down from heaven to take “a ride on the other side,” taking the very nature of a servant, in human likeness, so that He is fully acquainted with all of the trials we experience as humans and with that full knowledge, offers us full grace.

He is merciful and tender toward those who don’t deserve it;

he is slow to get angry and full of kindness and love.

He never bears a grudge, nor remains angry forever.

He has not punished us as we deserve for all our sins,

for his mercy toward those who fear and honor him

is as great as the height of the heavens above the earth.

He has removed our sins as far away from us as the east is from the west.

He is like a father to us, tender and sympathetic to those who reverence him.

For he knows we are but dust and that our days are few and brief,

like grass, like flowers,

blown by the wind and gone forever.

But the loving-kindness of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting

to those who reverence him;

his salvation is to children’s children of those

who are faithful to his covenant and remember to obey him!

Psalm 103: 8-18

We at Tents of Mercy send you greetings - may you know the heavenly Father’s mercy and His grace!

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