Most Americans, today, remember as children, the poignant story from the Old Testament regarding the despair felt by a traveling stranger to a community, who suddenly had been besieged by a bandit on a lonely side road to a village. This story would also be quite familiar in the minds of anyone coming from a Jewish or Islam background.
In today’s context, how can a towns’ person be of assistance to a man, woman or child, who suddenly finds himself/herself in a dangerous and unfamiliar circumstance?
The old story of the Good Samaritan quickly comes to mind, even when the unfortunate person’s dilemma happens in a modern-day town or city located anywhere on the planet.
The saga described below may be representative of the typical human fear that quickly can paralyze the mental capacity and response of even an otherwise, competent individual.
Crying woman by the gas pumps on Eubank Blvd – Early January 2024
A quick description of the setup might help to clarify the specific issue at hand.
Temperature: near freezing
Road Condition: Two to three inches of fresh snow remaining from yesterday’s storm
City Location: Albuquerque, NM
Precise Location: North-East corner of Lomas and Eubank
Time and Date: 5:00 PM, January 5, 2024
Business Place: Phillips 66 Gas Station with 8 pumps at the ready
I was preparing to fill the tank of my 2004 Buick Century with gasoline (petrol, benzine) when I heard in the distance what sounded like the whimpering voice of a woman – sobs, really.
At first, I could not quite understand the situation. The evening traffic near this intersection was busy, as expected for a Friday evening with its typical, driving-home traffic. The pedestrian traffic was light. It was a gray, foggy evening, not ideal for a casual walk.
Her whimpering was occasionally highlighted with short bursts of sharp, painful outcries. Then, I finally had the presence of mind to focus my attention on the small, sidewalk shelter cabin provided by the bus company for customers, who might be waiting to jump aboard for their business down Eubank Boulevard going northward.
Because it was getting dark, I could only see the bare outline of a small figure, who was, apparently, sitting at floor level inside that shelter. There was nobody else nearby with whom I might exchange my feelings of concern. Frankly, I did not know what to do.
Perhaps, employees or customers, who were buying sandwiches, chips, crackers, soda pop and trinkets inside the main store building might have practical ideas on how best to provide the sobbing woman with some assistance.
Since I had previously left, one of the store’s two cashiers $40.00 as a pre-payment for the gasoline – my debt card was temporarily disabled – I, then, needed to return to the store’s cashiers for a final settlement on my purchase. Fortunately, I had only used about $32.50 on my transaction.
After paying my bill at the counter, I hoped to discuss with these busy employees the painful condition that a crying woman outside in the cold seemed to be suffering.
After a little of friendly chit-chat, I told one of the cashiers that a trembling human figure was sobbing outside in the cold evening air, only about 100 feet away from where she was standing. I was still not ready to personally offer this victim any help, but I certainly hoped that these Phillips 66 employees might willingly proffer some good advice.
Actually, I was hoping that since they were physically close to the woman in pain that, maybe, they had already developed a good response or plan of action from their experience to quickly resolve this present situation.
Here, however, I was sadly mistaken.
The male cashier quickly proposed that if the crying woman outside needed help, that she should simply come into the main building and ask the cashiers for assistance. His answer sounded practical and sound but, yet, fundamentally uncaring and aloof. What if she is physically injured and can not walk? What if she is hallucinating over a drug overdose? Perhaps, she is packing a 38-caliber pistol and is desperately aching to use it?
Various tragic scenarios ran through my head. But, I was stuck without any potential solution that might relieve her obvious distress. Perhaps, being a Good Samaritan in a busy city like Albuquerque today requires more aplomb and emotional stability than the typical person can muster?
In contrast, the situation described in the Old Testament story seems so simple.
But, there were a few customers outside also getting gas for their vehicles, so why were they not providing help? Maybe, they also did not wish to get personally involved with this stranger?
Maybe, I, too, wished to be helpful but not really personally involved in addressing the actual situation at hand?
What to do in such a case? That is the question.
Reluctantly, I got into my Buick and slowly drove pass the enclosure where the woman lay crying, only to see that she was sitting alone with two shopping bags by her side. Then, I drove out of that Phillips station, feeling sheepishly inadequate with my blunders of the afternoon.
However, on my way back home, it occurred to me that the City of Albuquerque has two phone help lines available to anyone in need of assistance. The 311 line is helpful when a person is in need of temporary lodgings, clothing, food, etc.
The 911 line is for emergencies such as fires, robberies, car accidents and, hopefully, a crying woman in distress.
Yes, the gentleman with whom I spoke asked me to describe the situation, including street location, weather conditions, race, age and physical appearance of the person needing help. Unfortunately, I could only provide him with the vague information, which I had at my disposal. But, he was insistent on getting details that I could not readily provide.
However, within three minutes, I was able to provide him with enough information so that he could expedite his rescue efforts.
So in conclusion, my state of mind returned to its state of tranquility, knowing full well that even a Hapless Samaritan can do some good in our world of many challenges.
Postscript
I never personally met the crying lady in the bus enclosure but, somehow, I feel emotionally close to her.