“A man who stands for nothing will fall for anything.” -Malcolm X

This quote has been with me all day, my meditation, as the image of
George Floyd’s murder is impressed in my heart and mind. I’m continued
to be struck by the individuals, officers in this case, that make up systems
of followers, choosing not to effectively show up as leaders, in their
families and communities, instead seeking approval (from peers) with
their narrow lens focused on themselves.

We desperately need more leaders who are willing to plant perennial seeds
of change, while committed to being present and feeding the plants over
time - cultivating consistent dialogue and growing in meaningful
relationships allowing for the ecosystem to be rooted in healthy soil, calling
for light, sharing nutrients, budding in understanding, and a ripening to a
maturity that only requires water.

Today’s meditation guided me to thinking about the Parable of the Good Samaritan. I then came across this reflection, by Dr Martin Luther King, Jr.

“I remember when Mrs. King and I were first in Jerusalem. We rented a
car and drove from Jerusalem down to Jericho. And as soon as we got on
that road, I said to my wife, “I can see why Jesus used this as the setting
for his parable.” It’s a winding, meandering road. It’s really conducive
for ambushing.”

“You start out in Jerusalem, which is about 1200 miles — or rather 1200
feet above sea level. And by the time you get down to Jericho, fifteen or
twenty minutes later, you’re about 2200 feet below sea level. That’s a
dangerous road. In the days of Jesus it came to be known as the
“Bloody Pass.”

“And you know, it’s possible that the priest and the Levite looked over
that man on the ground and wondered if the robbers were still around.
Or it’s possible that they felt that the man on the ground was merely faking.
And he was acting like he had been robbed and hurt, in order to seize them
over there, lure them there for quick and easy seizure.”

“And so the first question that the priest asked — the first question that the
Levite asked was, “If I stop to help this man, what will happen to me?” But
then the Good Samaritan came by. And he reversed the question: “If I do
not stop to help this man, what will happen to him?”