Pulling People From The River

I have often employed a question in conversation and teaching, which is probably one of the best questions I've ever heard. 

The question is: "How long will you keep pulling people from the river before you go upstream to find out why they are falling in?" It's an excellent question but an even better parable.  

A wise man once journeyed to the river to meditate.  But when he arrived, he saw a group gathered at the riverside. 

Upon closer examination, he saw the group frantically wading into the river to rescue a steady stream of floundering, nearly drowning people.  

Just as they would pull one person from the river, another would arrive from upstream, shouting for help.  

The wise man approached the group and asked what was happening.  

"Are you blind?" one of the group snapped at him.  "Can't you see we are rescuing people from drowning in the river?  We've been at this for hours!"

The wise man sat silent for a moment watching the group, and then he said, 

"Your efforts are admirable, to be sure.  But perhaps it would be wise to send part of your group upstream to find out why people are falling in to the river in the first place."  

Our culture truly reflects the group of people on the banks of the river, doing their best to keep pulling people out of it. 

All that is required is to find out why they are falling in and what can be done to prevent it from happening again. But our culture finds it sexier to constantly play the hero, play up the drama, and argue over the best way to pull people out of the river.   

The effort inevitably becomes exhausting. Some may give up, thinking it is too much to handle.  

They may even justify walking away by blaming the people in the water.  "Well, if they hadn't fallen in to begin with, they wouldn't be in this mess," they might say.  "Perhaps they are getting what they deserve."  

Or they might mollify their guilt for quitting by believing that the seemingly hapless people in the river will eventually pull themselves out.  

Those on the margins of our society are constantly beset by the glaring flaws in our government systems, health care, education, and work.  They are preyed upon by not only slum lords, drug dealers, and predatory lenders but also religious leaders, politicians, and even those sworn to protect them. 

Every day, in what many of us believe to be the greatest country in the world, children are going to bed hungry, struggling to learn, and becoming victims of senseless violence.  

I read a quote from Eleanor Roosevelt that resonates with me and also convicts me: 

“When will our consciences grow so tender that we will act to prevent human misery rather than avenge it?”

It seems irresponsible of us, but we persist. Even those of us who call ourselves Christians are content with avoiding preventative approaches to serving society and helping bring justice and mercy to the world around us. 

Far too many people who claim to follow Jesus continue supporting elected officials who are more fond of pontificating about who is to blame for all the people in the river. 

They hold their press conferences in view of the river but far enough away from it to prevent their involvement.  

I feel like Jesus wants more of us than this. He constantly demonstrated a tender conscience in gravitating to those on the margins, reaching out to touch the untouchable, and healing those who had spent a lifetime in abject misery. 

And this same Jesus told his followers, "You will do even greater things," which indicates he meant for us to continue his ministry of healing, restoration, and reconciliation.  

It will take more than a few of us to leave our posts at the riverside and travel upstream to solve the problem of why people keep falling into flounder, but when we do, more will come.  

I believe that Christians can and should lead the way in this. We are uniquely positioned to do so if we are courageous enough to buck the system and give of ourselves in life-giving and generous ways.  

May it be so, and may the grace and peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with us all, now and forever. Amen.