rachel’s blog

I saw a very sad scene on the way to work this morning.

I live just a few blocks from an elementary school, so it’s not uncommon to see children walking to school. As I drove down the street towards the school, I saw a boy cross the street at a crosswalk. He seemed to have a bounce in his step, despite the cold morning. Maybe he’s a fifth grader.

When he got to the corner on my left, he turned around and looked towards the street and started saying something. I looked to my right and saw a chubby girl on the opposite corner who I presume was his younger sister. She was standing still. She had her backpack in her hand and her coat was hanging open.

The girl was bawling. The look on her face said, “I have been wronged by my big brother, and now I’m angry!”

I realize that sibling spats are not uncommon, but the whole scene was just so sad. A conflict had emerged and Big Brother crossed the street without Little Sister. For one brief second, I considered pulling over to the curb, walking over to the girl, and asking her what was wrong. But I didn’t. Children are taught to be wary of strangers, and I didn’t want to further traumatize the girl.

As I drove past the school and on down the road, I found myself wondering whether I had been a good Samaritan. Should I have stopped? On the one hand, it was none of my business; if the children are old enough to walk to school without their parents, they’re old enough to resolve their own conflicts. On the other hand, the little girl was not coping well with whatever was going on and may have benefited from some adult intervention. Of course, if the girl had been bleeding or otherwise injured, I’m sure I would have stopped, but is physical suffering the only reason to stop and help someone? What about obvious emotional and relational suffering?

I know what you’re thinking. “Get over it, Rachel. It was just a normal brother-sister quarrel.” Perhaps it was. And maybe she’s a brat who was being unreasonable. Who knows? But does this mean it’s OK to just look straight ahead and pretend I didn’t see the situation on the street corners?

South African Archbishop Desmond Tutu once said, “If you see injustice and say nothing, you have taken the side of the oppressor.” Well, you say, we don’t really know whether the boy had treated the girl unjustly. True. But does that mean I shouldn’t have even bothered to find out?

Forgive me for sounding cliche, but I can’t help but wonder… What would Jesus, the Prince of Peace, have done?