Good News for a Change

Today is a good day.  Funny how watching election returns can either be a painful experience (two years ago) or an exciting one (last night).  The pundits will now spend weeks trying to analyze all the data from yesterday's election and then tell us what happened.  Bottom line: the American people are tired of gridlock in our government.  Time will tell if the election will remove that gridlock or make it worse.  But, now the White House will have to at least attempt to work with Congress. 


I would like to share with you a very positive story.  I don't get to do that very often in this crazy, wacky world in which we live.  This story actually happened here in Minnesota and involved some teenagers.  The story was reported in the Minneapolis Star-Tribune newspaper this morning with these headlines: "Teens lose meet, but win respect."  The story was written by Mary Lynn Smith and Erin Adler, both staff writers for the paper.  The story begins: "Two Minnesota high school runners have emerged as heroes after being disqualified from the state cross-country race where they helped a competitor who fell."  The two runners who were disqualified were Kailee Kiminski, a senior at Esko High School, and Tierney Winter, a junior from Waterville-Elysian-Morristown High School.  During last Saturday's State High School Cross-Country Meet, held in Northfield, MN, these two runners came upon Jessica Christoffer, a freshman from Jackson County Central High School, who had stumbled about 50 meters from the finish line.  Without thinking, Kailee and Tierney stopped to help the fallen runner.  Miss Winter said, "We're almost done.  Come on.  Let's finish this race.  We're almost there."  After the race, both Miss Winter and Miss Kiminski were told that, according to the rules, they would be disqualified from the race.  The rules stipulate that a runner can receive no assistance during the race.  According to the article, Miss Kiminski replied, "It's much bigger than just a race.  It's more important to help people." 


The girls are being hailed as heroes, as well they should.  They did something that is rare these days.  They thought of someone besides themselves.  The article does not say whether other runners had gone past the struggling Jessica or not.  Perhaps some had.  They wanted to cross the finish line.  They chose not to get involved. 


As I read this story this morning, I was drawn to a story that Jesus told.  It is found in Luke 10.  We know it as the Parable of the Good Samaritan.  In that story, another person had fallen along the wayside - not in a race, but in a journey along a road home.  Jesus tells of at least two individuals who noticed the fallen man but chose not to get involved.  They had their excuses, but the bottom line was their focus was upon themselves.  Then, along came a Samaritan who stopped, gave comfort to the fallen man, and took him to a nearby inn where he could receive medical attention.  To get involved with this fallen man cost the Samaritan much time and some financial resources.  Yet he knew it was the right thing to do.  Life was more than just getting from point A to point B.  As Miss Kiminski said, "It's more important to help people." 


I applaud those two young runners.  I don't know anything about their background, but their actions speak volumes as to the type of instruction they have received at home.  Put others before yourself - always good advice for all of us. 


Friends, I share this story to remind each of us that there still is good in the world.  It often does not make the headlines, as did this story.  But there are people who are spending themselves in service for others.  That is what God has called us to do.  I trust we will do it as well as did Kailee Kiminski and Tierney Winter.  (You know, it is more enjoyable writing about something good for a change!)