two days ago, while working at jimmy john’s, chad berryman, micah goulet, and i were having a conversation based on whether or not systemically evil cycles are easily broken (i.e. is it just as easy for a hereditary alcoholic to quit drinking as it is for a non-hereditary alcoholic). at one point we had gotten down to discussing who really needs help. one side of the argument was that people who are in difficult situations should have the internal strength to decide to get themselves out; they should recognize the wrong around them and make a conscious decision to change it. the other side of the argument was that sometimes people have been damaged to such an extent that the ability to make such a decision is nearly impossible.

around this point in our talk, i took a delivery downtown. on the way back i stopped by my friend who often sits (in his wheelchair) on the corner of 13th st and university avenue. we talked a bit while the light was red and just as it turned green, i asked if he had eaten yet. when he told me he hadn’t that day, i told him i’d get him my employee sandwich.

i got back to the store, made the sandwich, and put it in a bag so that it could get taken later. our inshop conversation continued and we starting talking about humanitarianism versus development. we got to a point where we all agreed that some people do, in fact, need help often due to extenuating circumstances beyond their control. furthermore, i/we proposed that the mark of a good christian is that they are someone who helps. and, even though i didn’t say this, i believe that a big part of my draw towards christianity is due to the fact that the christian God seems to have an extraordinary bias for those who need help.

after about an hour or so had passed since i had returned to the store, micah got a delivery to take. even though the actual delivery order was in the opposite direction of my friend, micah took the sandwich to him anyways. now check this out: when micah got back to the store he told us that as he was giving my friend the free sandwich, somebody in a church van that was also stopped at the light, hopped out and gave the guy some chips and a drink too! what are the chances, eh!?

does God have a sense of humor? i like to think so.