Sightseeing in Arkansas

One of my Bible study friends told us an interesting, but true, story yesterday. She said she was driving toward the church the day before when she passed an El Camino with a horse in the back of it surrounded by chicken wire. The horse, evidently, had been on a ride like this before since it was calmly eating in the back of the vehicle and did not have a scared look on its face. My friend, however, could not stand the thought of possible injury to the animal and immediately called the non-emergency number to report the situation. "I just passed an El Camino . . .," she began, only to be interrupted by the dispatcher's voice saying, "with a horse in the back? Where is he now?" On the one hand, my friend thought it was good for so many drivers on the interstate to have also been concerned enough about the horse's danger to call the state police. On the other hand, she also had an epiphany concerning her own lack of concern for those who frequently stand at intersections with signs indicating their need for a job and/or money. She simply noted the irony of a modern culture that seems to value animals and trees over people.

I have been thinking about her story and wonder what direction we have in the Bible and in literature for such issues. Of course, the Bible gives many examples of those who are ill, hungry, naked, and poor and instructs each of us to give generously to those people. There can be no doubt as to this command. Literature also has many examples that teach the same lesson. One of the most notable is a piece I used to teach in college English: Herman Melville's Bartleby, the Scrivener. In this rather long story, the narrator wrestles with the issue of an employee who refuses to do the copy work he was hired to do at a law office. Near the end of the story, the narrator asks one of the essential questions of our humanity, "Are we to be our brother's keeper?"

Obviously, we cannot meet all the needs of our neighbors, ensure that their animals are well cared for and healthy, and take care of the environment at the same time. We can, however, examine our God-given talents and focus on where our strengths lie. Sightseeing in Arkansas, and anywhere else, depends on our ability to open our eyes and truly see what lies before us. Only then can we help--even in a small way.