A man asked Jesus, “Which is the greatest commandment?” Jesus answered, “…love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it, you should love your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 22:36-39).

There is a Good Samaritan who lives in the San Luis Valley and I am honored to know him. For as long as I’ve known him, he’s avoided the spotlight and recognition. He goes quietly about the Valley, and the entire State of Colorado (even outside the State of Colorado), helping all those he can help. And, he does just that. He helps people from all walks of life in all kinds of situations, in every way imaginable and unimaginable. He even helped my mother when she was arrested here in 2012-2013, which was when I met him.

Do you know the Bible story about The Good Samaritan? Jesus told a parable about a Jewish man who was walking from Jerusalem to Jericho when a band of robbers attacked him, beat him, took everything he had, even his clothes, and left him, bleeding, to die on the side of the road.

A little while later a priest walked by and when he saw the victim, you’d think he would have stopped and helped him, but he didn’t. Instead, he crossed to the other side of the road, pretending he didn’t see him. Then, a Levite walked by (Levites assisted the priests) but he didn’t help the man, either.

Then, a Samaritan man came along. In those days, Jewish people didn’t like Samaritans, at all (racism isn’t new). And, the bloodied victim was a Jewish man. This was a perfect opportunity for the Samaritan to enjoy the Jewish man’s bad fortune and pretend he didn’t see him, like the priest and Levite had done. However, the moment the Samaritan saw the victim, he had compassion for him and helped him, immediately.

The Samaritan put the injured man on his donkey, took him into town, put him in a hotel, paid his bill and paid extra money for the man to stay and recuperate and asked the innkeeper to take care of him. He even told the innkeeper if the Jewish man needed to stay longer, he would return in two months and pay the man’s bill.

Which of the three men was a neighbor to the man who was left beaten on the side of the road? The answer: “The man who had compassion on the victim and helped him.” And, Jesus told us to, “Go and do the same” (Luke 10:25-37).

The Good Samaritan I’m talking about is my friend, Erwin Young, who personifies the Good Samaritan that Jesus introduced in the Bible story. Since I was 8 years old and first met Erwin Young, I have witnessed him day after day living the way Jesus told us to live, letting His Light shine through him, helping anyone/everyone who needs help, which, by the way, is the way Jesus lived His life on this earth. Jesus said he came to seek and save the lost (Luke 19:9-10) which included prostitutes, demon-possessed (today it includes the demon of addiction), homeless people, those with awful diseases, etc. Today these people are also known as, “those people.”

THOSE PEOPLE

Definition of Those People: abused/neglected children of addicts who suffer with brain damage because their mother drank alcohol and used drugs during pregnancy with them; people who struggle with addiction; homeless people; people with mental health problems; people who smell bad because they’re poor and don’t have money to buy soap and water to bathe; hungry-down-on-their-luck-people; etc.

Guess what! I’m one of, “those people.”

I have witnessed stupid people criticize and ridicule Erwin because he cares about, and helps, ‘those people,’ which, by the way, is exactly what Jesus told us to do, “Go and do the same” (Luke 10:25-37).

Erwin also helps people who have plenty of money but still need help in some way.

Well, I would rather be one of ‘those people’ any day, and be like my friend, Erwin Young, than be stupid and act like the priest and the Levite.

My friend, Erwin Young, suffered a stroke last week.

Erwin is a man of God who demonstrates the Love of Jesus by the way he lives his life. Mean, stupid people could learn a lot from Erwin. And, you know what? Even though they’re mean and stupid, Erwin forgives them, prays for them, and loves them anyway.

God Bless You, My Friend. I believe in the power of prayer and I’m praying and believing for your quick recovery. Thank you, for all you have done for me, my family, even my dog and cat, and kids like me, everywhere.

If you would like to send Erwin a note, send it to me and I’ll make sure he gets it.

Amarah’s Kids Like Me

P.O. Box 354

Alamosa, CO 81101

Until next time, remember, Jesus Loves You, and JESUS IS LORD!

Special note: We are hoping to locate Nona Mechelle who handmade the beautiful Raggedy Ann Doll and donated it to Amarah’s Toy/Food/Warm Clothing Drive in 2015. Please call Ruth Heide ASAP at The Valley Courier, (719) 589-2553.