Both & Also

““There comes a point where we need to stop just pulling people out of the river. We need to go upstream and find out why they’re falling in.”― Desmond Tutu

Let us explore how we may put these two concepts together in a both & also manner instead of either or.

We all have a role to play in both rescuing and advocating. Rescuing, the pulling people out of the river, those who may be drowning from the human created systems of oppression along with and, going up stream to dismantle and tear down the systems that throw life away, down the river for someone else to care about.

This may be easier to see and understand if we can view the rescuing part as we think about our family, friends, and community. I’ll gladly put myself in harm’s way, ridicule, or public embarrassment to save my children, my family, or fellow neighbor.

We all may feel a sense of wading in the water to rescue our loved ones. Even to the point of drowning ourselves. We will stand up to the “institution” so that we or our loved one’s receive equal opportunity in life to thrive as a human being. This may be thought of as rescuing and maybe even advocating to a certain point. We will gladly step from the rescuing, pulling, to advocating, upstream work, for those we are closest to and love. This may not come naturally to all of us. However, most of us have empathy for those we know and love. Thinking about rescuing or advocating on behalf of those closest to us may not feel like a stretch.

We can all feel what it would or has been like advocating on behalf of our children if a school is not granting a good education. We can all feel what it may be like to advocate for a loved one who isn’t receiving the best health care. Think Shirley McClain in Terms of Endearment. Turning from rescuing our neighbors, who we may not know, to advocating on their behalf is the challenge.

In the parable of the Good Samaritan Jesus calls us to see every fellow human being as our neighbor and advocate on their behalf, giving up some of our own resources, power, privilege, time, and treasure so that all have true equal opportunity to become fully human. The Good Samaritan both rescues the beaten as well as escorts him to a place of safety, giving up some of his time and treasure to ensure the beaten gets good care: Rescue and advocacy are part of the parable along with our calling as Christ’s hands and feet, His church.

This is move from rescuing into advocacy to the work of going up stream and putting our very way of life on the line to challenge the oppressive systems, which stem from the ego centered empire of greed and power, becomes a stumbling block, an impediment to seeing and honoring the divine in all of creation. Especially those who we have been told are less than by society, culture, tradition, family, and history.

We can see putting it all and more on the line for our families. The difficult part comes when we, as called forth by God through Jesus, are admonished to put all that on the line for someone we have never met.

From The Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

“On the parable of the Good Samaritan: "I imagine that the first question the priest and Levite asked was: 'If I stop to help this man, what will happen to me?' But by the very nature of his concern, the good Samaritan reversed the question: 'If I do not stop to help this man, what will happen to him?”

If we can, by the Grace of God, hold this quote and know that collectively we are all standing by the banks of the river. Each playing a part in the rescuing of our neighbors along with going up the river to stem the flow of oppression that is throwing bodies away in the name of greed.

It is not enough to stand at the riverbank feeling sorry for those who are hurting and struggling against oppression and violence.

It is not enough to stand at the riverbank helping with the rescue effort without also doing the difficult work of dismantling the entire system.

It is not enough to say well at least I’m not like them so I don’t need to interrupt my way of life. I’m a good person and I didn’t create the mess in the first place.

In the end we are all responsible for the well-being of each other as we are all connected by the sacred strand of Eternal Creation.