Luke 10:34 – Going over to him, the Samaritan soothed his wounds with olive oil and wine and bandaged them. Then he put the man on his own donkey and took him to an inn, where he took care of him. (NLT)

"Are you ready to hear a Mayberry moment?"

I once pastored a small country church near a tiny country town — located, in fact, in the smallest county in the state. The chairman of the deacons served as the chief of police. We always kidded each other about the town having many similarities to the fictitious town of Mayberry on The Andy Griffith Show.

"What happened in Mayberry this week," I'd often ask him when he walked into the church on Sunday morning. One Sunday morning, I didn't have to ask; he just told.

One of our shut-ins had called him on a particular day that week and asked, "Is the lobster truck in town?"

It seems that a business from a nearby town had a fish wagon that served lobster sandwiches on a specific day of the week. Since this lady couldn't get out on her own, she decided to call the local chief of police to see if he would run down to the travelling restaurant, purchase her a sandwich, and deliver it. Never mind that he needed to look out for criminals, watch for speeders rushing through his small town, or take care of any number of other town situations. She wanted a lobster sandwich.

Being the kind person that he was — the Andy Taylor kind of guy — he bought her the sandwich and delivered it. It was much like the time when the remote for her television wasn't working, and he made a run to replace her batteries. As far as I know, she never had a cat that needed rescuing from a tree or roof. I'm sure that he would have done that as well.

He was a Good Samaritan, much like the one Jesus talked about in His story — a story that many who have never even read the Bible know. He stopped to help the person whom others had passed by, using his own funds and materials to care for him.

Our world needs more Mayberry moments. When I watch The Andy Griffith Show, I long to live in such a town and in such a time. My childhood was somewhat like that, but those days are long gone in most places — except in that small town where I once pastored, in a time when people knew their neighbours and helped them, in a place where people cared for others and knew not only their names but also their family members.

Mayberry moments surround us; we must just look for them — and not gripe when they come along, but willingly and lovingly get that lobster sandwich or change the batteries in the remote. Yes, those moments infringe upon our time, but such also did so for the Good Samaritan. Yes, Jesus praised him. He had done the right thing. Christ will praise us, too, and we'll enjoy life much more when we put others above ourselves.

How can we do a better job of seeing the Mayberry moments?

Prayer: Father, send us the Mayberry moments and then give us the spiritual eyes to see them. Amen.

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About the author:

Martin Wiles <mandmwiles@gmail.com>
Greenwood, South Carolina, USA
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