I have come to realize and accept that wisdom will not die with me. Nor am I the sole possessor and/or embodiment of the definition of "normal." [**crickets**] So what makes me think that I can judge/determine who is needy? Or that I can know what it is that someone needs?I was a school teacher for a long time. When I was in college studying toward that, and then studying again for graduate degrees, I studied Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs. An over-simplification of that is to say that some needs have to be met before other needs can be met. The hungrier a person is, the harder it is for them to focus their attention on something more abstract until their hunger is assuaged. Jesus was the original author of this hierarchy. He spent His time on earth meeting the physical needs of people (feeding them, healing them) so that they could realize and accept that they had spiritual needs.
I keep thinking about the Bill Withers song called "Lean On Me." It’s been covered by a lot of artists, and its message is beautiful. Part of the lyrics are:
If there is a load you have to bear
That you can’t carry
I’m right up the road
I’ll share your load
If you just call me.
I’ve sung this song a lot of times, but lately I’ve been wishing that it carried a more active message...that instead of the one with the need calling on the strong one, the strong one would notice the one in need...and help.
- Sheree Yasko Hill
