Remember the Other

I recently heard Rabbi Lau-Lavie tell a parable from the Talmud. It is about a ship that is sailing, and there are many cabins. And one of the people in the cabins on the lower floor decides to dig a hole in the floor of his cabin and does so, and sure enough, the ship begins to sink. And the other passengers suddenly discover what’s going on and see this guy with a hole in the floor. And they say, “What are you doing?” And he says, “Well, it’s my cabin. I paid for it.” And down goes the ship.

Lau-Lavie points out that “…the Bible, again and again, reminds us: Remember the Other. Remember the Other. You were once the Other.” We have a communal responsibility for the other, “including the limping and the weak at the edges of our camp.” When one part of our society ails, we all ail. When one part is demonized, or shunned, or neglected, we all suffer.

This parable is a great reminder that in a very real sense, we are all in the same boat. Our actions affect others – sometimes way down the line. Our words and actions and attitudes have ripple effects. This is true in both the negative and positive sense, right? In the positive sense, every day, we have the ability, and the opportunity, to make this world a little better for others, and in doing so, we make the world better for ourselves.

Let us pray: God of Grace, we remember today that we are truly all in this together. Open our eyes that we might find even small ways to make this world a little better for others. Give us a heart for the greater world. And may our words and attitudes and actions bring unity and hope and healing. May your Spirit rest on each of us this day. Heal the wounds we carry and bless us that we might be a blessing. In Christ’s name. Amen.