“Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to act.” Proverbs 3:27 (picture above from www.icrc.org -Red Cross workers in WW1)
This week we celebrate World Red Cross Day. Heartfelt thanks to the millions of people around the world that give their time, money, resources and skills to help humanity in troubled times. It is befitting to celebrate International Nurses Day in the same week, as nurses are the same kind of people who accept the call to help others in their times of need.
The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) was founded in 1919 in Geneva, Switzerland. The IFRC is an international humanitarian movement with about 100 million volunteers, members and staff worldwide. Their mission statement says this, “The Red Cross was born of a desire to bring assistance without discrimination to the wounded on the battlefield, endeavors—in its international and national capacity—to prevent and alleviate human suffering wherever it may be found. Its purpose is to protect life and health and to ensure respect for the human being. It promotes mutual understanding, friendship, cooperation and lasting peace amongst all peoples.”
On New Year’s Day, 1896, four doctors approached South African President Paul Kruger for permission to form an ambulance corps. President Kruger not only gave the doctors his personal blessing, but his Volksraad also made a grant of 500 pounds for equipment, considered a very generous contribution in those days. This ambulance corps eventually grew into the South African Red Cross Society, established in 1921 and admitted into the IFRC in 1929.
Magen David Adom answering a call.
The Magen David Adom (Red Star of David) organization in Israel was formed by a nurse named Karen Tenenbaum in 1930. It began with a single branch in Tel Aviv and has grown into an organization with more than 15,000 volunteers and 1,000 ambulances. For decades, Israel was denied membership into the IFRC because the Jewish state insisted on using a red Star of David as their symbol, instead of a red cross. Though the Muslim Red Crescent symbol was admitted into the organization, officially in 1929, it took some time before the committee was willing to make any other religious-affiliated exceptions. But finally, on June 22, 2006, MDA was admitted as a full member of the IFRC, allowing them to use the symbol of a red square box, without a Star of David inside, as their International symbol.
These organizations are shining examples of how our world is supposed to function. During times of war, natural disaster, and other human catastrophes, people from all walks of life rise up to help one another. They become selfless in their quest to save, rescue and care for the hurt. We see news reports of volunteers from all over the world coming to help in these situations. These people are to be commended for their passion and sacrifice. It is in times like these that the human spirit is really put to the test.
Not everyone will be involved in helping during a war, natural disaster or some other global catastrophe, but we are all called on to help one another. Daily, we are faced with people who have silent disasters going on in their lives. The Bible is clear about the responsibilities we have one human to another. Sometimes we just need to be reminded of the simple things we can do, every day, to make life’s difficult circumstances a bit easier for people we come across.
Feeding the homeless in San Francisco-Screen grab of YouTube video from GiveLiveInspire.
Walking in Jerusalem one day, our family passed a beggar. We all averted our eyes and walked briskly by. Immediately, my husband remembered a passage of scripture: “Whoever gives to the poor will not want, but he who hides his eyes will get many a curse.” Proverbs 28:27. Wow! Talk about God speaking into the moment! Well, he went back and invited her to have a meal with us in an outdoor café. His act of kindness was forever imprinted on my mind and heart. It was a small act, but huge in the scope of learning what it means to be aware of our fellow human beings and their needs, and then to act on it.
Most of the time, we have no idea how a kind act can change someone’s life or prevent a terrible outcome. But our duty is to“Defend the weak and the fatherless; uphold the cause of the poor and the oppressed. Rescue the weak and the needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked.” Psalm 82:3-4
Those who can give should give. Those who can go should go. Those who can pray should pray. When we are called on to help the needy, poor, sick or lame of this world, let’s open our hearts and our hands and experience the joy of giving.
“Give and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.” Luke 6:38
