GREAT THINGS ENTERPRISE
CLAUDE BLACK
Mark 7:32
A Jump, Please
Following an appointment, I left an office and walked to my car, looking at the report I’d received. Beside my car in the parking lot was a large pickup truck, which I didn’t notice until I began to slide into my car. The driver said, “Could you give me a jump, please?” I told him I would and went to the trunk to get the ever-present jumper cables. We attached them; the man started his truck. He expressed his appreciation, and we both left the parking lot. It felt good to be able to help someone, even a complete stranger whom I will probably never meet again.
I went to an auto parts store recently and searched the aisles for the part I needed. Unable to find the part, I went to the counter to ask for help. The clerk behind the register was intent on looking through a stack of papers and did not look up to acknowledge my presence. I left there and went to another store. When I walked to the counter, the helpful clerk listened to my request, found the part, and made a sale.
At one time, a superstore’s employees wore vests with the words “Just Ask” stenciled on the back, but no longer. Now, if one wants assistance, he has to search the superstore for a knowledgeable “associate,” whom he may or may not be able to find.
The importance of assistance came to mind when I worked on a translation of St. Mark’s story of Jesus’ return to the Sea of Galilee. “And they brought to him a deaf man who spoke with difficulty, and they implored him that he might place his hand upon him.” (Mark 7:32) Almost lost in this story are the helpers—the people who brought this man to Jesus; in fact, there is not even a noun to identify them. The verb is simply in the third person plural, so the subject is often rendered as “some people” or a much more generic “they.” But without these helpers, this man may never have found his way to Jesus and restoration.
There are often anonymous helpers—clerks, associates, receptionists, servers, cashiers, and others—who touch one’s life almost daily. A smile, a “thank you,” or maybe even a tip where appropriate would show appreciation for their help.
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