Dr. King's campaign, Garbage Workers in Memphis, envisioned as "Going Down Jericho Road," "dangerous kind of unselfishness;" Jesus plucking question of "Eternal Life," out of repertoire, or thin air, positioning "on dangerous curve between Jerusalem and Jericho;" one stopping there risking, "not to be passionate by proxy," choosing for common capacity of you and me, "to project the 'I' into the 'thou,'" Jesus -- routinely? -- reversing one question with another, or with parable, one never-ending question!
Nitty-gritty not Priest's and Levite's "If I stop what will happen to me?" but Samaritan's "If I do not stop to help, what will happen to him?" Diverting to "causal root," avoiding "individual effect?" Bypassers on self-important ways, organizing "Jericho Road Improvement Association?"! Akin to kids' cat-quick quip, "Daddy, we know you love the whole world -- what about us?"!
On the one hand we are called to play "Good Samaritan" on life's roadside; but that will be only an initial act. One day we will come to see that the whole Jericho road must be transformed, so that men and women will not be constantly beaten and robbed as they journey life's highway. (Dr. King)
"Given moment" deflects to "big picture," no way for us to pass by on some other side, nor to let ourselves be passed by! Jesus walking all roads, intrinsically interruptible, so much desperation forbidding him ever pass by!
Even Jesus' awareness expanding, consciousness rising, parabling to mirror us, turning up unturned parts of us, never found, or lost long ago -- So are we mostly the one attacked? The attacker? One or both of the waypassers? The stopper? Donkey? Innkeeper: Yeah, sure you'll be back to pay for it all!
At ease in our own Zions? Watching World Struggles pass distantly by? Passing by them in return? "It takes great humility to step aside for a parable's sake! And without the parable I would never have been saved." (Stephen Mitchell) Seed into ground, as leaven in loaf, salt in meat, light in world, parable in reality -- losing, dispersing selves in one another? Imagine numbers through centuries helped -- even "saved" in some way? -- by this story! Connecting experiences everywhere, discovering ourselves in discovering others as well, many lives, many stories -- Like Trojan Horses? Never know whom we'll end up in?
Activist Art, Artistic Action, art, like action, of inward and outward selves, albethey imperfectly balanced -- My AA: Activists Anonymous: "My name is John, I am helpless to do nothing about it!" Wears me out, gives me grace to go on, rathering "yes" than "no," some method to every waking Wesleyan moment? After all, who are we -- to be of any assistance to First-Born? In Whom, by Wisdom, all things created? Bearing Creator's own irresistibleness, even to thrones, dominions, rulers, powers? Head of the Body, First Raised from the Dead! Mansion of Rooms for All! Reconciling wickedest weaponers to Service of Life! As yet still revealing, in and through US? Finding, fitting, holding, keeping together every last lonely dislocated Piece of Universe? In Culture so frenzied, so doing without discerning? Church so sedated, so discerning without ever doing?
Beyond all fixingness, one of another, foundation of fittingness, each one with all others; Mary, Martha, Lazarus more faith community than blood family; Early Church welcoming women surely, securely, as men -- studying scripture, teaching, preaching, traveling, evangelizing -- all baptized in Jesus! Uniquely! One among equals in every last witness and service! All things fitting, at last, together for good?
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