Love Your Neighbour, As Yourself

The focus for Middle School Chapel services this term has been Jesus's commandment to 'love your neighbour, as yourself'. Such a simple instruction, so easy to understand and yet, so challenging to every one of us. As the lawyer in the story of the good samaritan quipped to Jesus, 'And who is my neighbour?'.

A modern-day good samaritan, Don Richie, named Australian Hero of the Year (2011), had the answer. His neighbour was any person in distress, who needed a stranger's help.

Don Richie lived opposite the infamous Sydney suicide spot The Gap, and over the years he talked more than 160 people out of taking their lives there. Keeping watch from a second-story window of his house, Don looked out for people preparing to jump. His strategy was simple, to interrupt them with a kind word and to offer them a cup of tea. This ordinary act of kindness effectively coaxed dozens of people back from the brink.

Don Richie claimed it does not take much to make a difference to those in need and anyone can do it. In his Australia Day acceptance speech, Mr Richie said:

"To my fellow Australians, never be afraid to speak to those who you feel are in need. Always remember the power of the simple smile, a helping hand, a listening ear and a kind word."

An important message for R U OK week and for us to remember every day.