The Whole Way

I usually don’t like interruption.  It bothers me.  Being a routine kind of guy, I like order and predictability and tend to be uncomfortable with the unexpected.  But, today was different; today I met Sarah.  I was on my walk home from class and it was cold (it’s rainy season here and we forgot our hats and gloves) when I met a small, little, old, Jewish woman.  She spoke to me in Hebrew, which unfortunately through a semester I have yet to master, but she also had some broken English and was able to explain to me what she wanted.  She stopped me abruptly on the street and told me (not asked, told me) to help her.  She had a cart and wanted to know what it was called in English, I wasn’t aware that is what she was asking until about 5 minutes later.  She demanded that I take the cart full of groceries and help her get them home.  “Where do you live?” I asked her.  “Here, just right here…you, come! I live here!”  So, I followed, somewhat hesitant, and somewhat curious to where this little sweet, but demanding woman would take me.  Thinking I would only need to backtrack on my walk a few steps, I was willing to help.  So, we walked, and walked, and walked…finally I asked again if she lived here on this road.  She frustratingly said “yes! I tell you, I live here, just up here…come!” I tried to start some small talk and discovered that her name was Sarah and she had recently hurt her arm so she needed me to help her.  About a ½ mile later, we arrived at a building, climbed some stairs, and went inside.  “Okay, here you go” I said, thinking we had arrived at her apartment, I was ready to get home.  “No! You come,” she said “it’s just up here.”  “Isn’t this your house?” I asked.  “Yes, but you help me all the way” Sarah replied, standing outside a one-person sized elevator.  She must have noticed my hesitation and stated boldly, “it’s okay.  You man, I woman. No worry, you not need to worry. Get in.”  Get in??? What?? This elevator is really only for one person, and this is getting awkward.  But, I obediently followed and Sarah, the cart, and I made our way up to the top floor where the elevator opened to her front door. “Here you go” I said again, thinking I had done my deed and could be on my way again.  “What? No, you help me the whole way.  You bring them into my house” she persisted.  Then she opened her door, she entered her house, but did not invite me in.  Her husband came to the door, appearing a little confused, but welcomed me.  Sarah offered me something to drink and I was about to say no, when I remembered that hospitality is a huge part of this culture and can sometimes be offensive to not take something that is offered, so I said “sure.”  Sarah said something in Hebrew to her husband and a minute later he was back with a Coke.  They stood in the doorway while I drank the Coke and I tried to start more conversation, “Have you always lived here?” I asked.  “Yes, we live here” Sarah said, frustrated and thinking I was asking if this was her home.  “Did you grow up in Jerusalem?” I asked, trying a different approach.  “Yes! I live here. I tell you I live here!” she exclaimed, not fully understanding my English.  “Okay” I finally agreed and thanked her again for the Coke and was on my way.   

On my way home I thought about how glad I was that I allowed Sarah to “interrupt” my walk home.  It was good for me to be uncomfortable.  Sometimes comfort can rob us from experiences that could otherwise be amazing.  This experience was really kind of weird, but I am thankful for it because I learned something.  I was so ready to stop at the earliest point and let her be on her way, but Sarah insisted that I help her the entire way – all the way into her home.  I think about how thousands of years ago, God chose the Israelites to be His people, and I like how He decided on such a persistent group of people – people that don’t back down and don’t give up…people with chutzpah.  He demands that we go the WHOLE way with Him, not to stop when it’s convenient for us or when things get uncomfortable.  Sarah expected nothing less than that I bring her grocery cart all the way into her home, even though I originally was walking the other direction.  God wants all of me and for me to be willing to go the whole way – to give my all and nothing less.  I thank Sarah for teaching me that again today.