first responders*

I like what CFAN in Tacoma does with First Responders. They have about a 13-year tradition of honoring First Responders on a Sunday in September. This year I noticed something one of the First Responders said as he was being honored: After 9/11 their department had more requests than they could fill to be at some church. This year was the first-time CFAN was the only request to appear somewheres. Our First Responders are still doing the same job and perhaps doing it better than on 9/11.  My thoughts on this reflect off Pastor Bill Wolfson's sermon that Sunday, September 7th.
Are we First Responders in life. Do we get involved when we see a need or walk on by? Pastor Wolfson's scripture text was the story of the good Samaritan. We probably have all heard that story.
Some thieves attacked a man and robbed him, left him wounded and hurt on the side of the road. Luke 10:30-37. The Bible says he was half dead. A Priest walks by sees him and passes by on the other side of the road. A Levite also walked down that same road when he saw him passed by on the other side of the road. Levites were assistants to the Priests. These were religious people and they did nothing to help the wounded hurt traveler. A good Samaritan walked down that same road and stopped, attended to the mans hurts, took him to an Inn nearby, paid for his care. Left money with the Innkeeper to continue the care and if it cost more he would reimburse him the next time he came through. We usually talk about neighbors when we cover this passage of scripture. But I want to use the term First Responder. Are we First Responders in life when we see situations that need our help as this good Samaritan did? Or do we pass by? God bless, LVZ.