Arriving at the Inn

The ending of the parable of the Good Samaritan often is not included when taught or preached. The point of the story is beautifully emphasized regarding the active compassion of the man of Samaria. He cleaned and dressed the beaten man's wounds, took him to a nearby inn and cared for him the rest of the day.

The story then continues. The next morning it was time for the Samaritan to be on his way. He paid the innkeeper and went about his business promising to pay later for anything else he owed for the man's care.

He responded to the needs of this beaten man, but when it was time for him to be on his way, he handed him over to another. He didn't "take him to raise," as I have heard it phrased.

He was respecting the limits of what he had to give. He helped "hands on" as long as he could, then he turned it over to the innkeeper.

This is a message that must not be left out for those in ministry if burnout is to be avoided. The question must periodically be asked, "When have I arrived at the inn?" When have I gone as far as I responsibly should go? At what point in any act of ministry do I need to turn the situation over to other resources? At what point do I need to bring in the "innkeeper?"

Jesus implored us to be about the task of filling cups with cold water. We can't do that if our pitchers are empty. We must respect our limitations. We must respect our boundaries if we are to be effective in our ministries.

I recall a seminar I attended in the 1970s led by Carlyle Marney. Many recall him being a pastor to pastors during the latter years of his life. Each of us in the class was in the parish ministry. We were talking about the most difficult situation or person we faced in our ministries.

I spoke of a lady in my church to whom I had reached out time and time again but the connection as her pastor simply never happened. She maintained her distance, not needing my ministry or me. I remember Marney's words, "Ron, let somebody else bless her. You're working too hard at it. Keep on caring for her, but leave it to someone else to come along and be the blessing she's wanting."

"Let somebody else bless her." For a young and very green pastor those were relieving words. I didn't have to do it all. I could go as far as I could go and then turn it over to the innkeeper.

Ron Greer is pastoral counselor with the Pastoral Counseling Service at Peachtree Road UMC in Atlanta. He can be reached at [email protected].

http://accesswdun.com/article/2002/9/190205