The Forgotten Bike

Read Psalm 142: 1-7

How I plead with God, how I implore his mercy, pouring out my troubles before him.

Psalm 142:1-2 (TLB)

Be strong! Be courageous! Do not be afraid of them! For the Lord your God will be with you. He will neither fail you nor forsake you." Deuteronomy 31:6 (TLB)

D. Gerow Baker lives in Oklahoma. As she hurried by, she saw that the bike was still there - small. pink, and white, probably once a girl's greatest treasure. Now it sat unsecured and forgotten, strangely out of place in the heart of a busy college campus.

The forgotten bike reminds D. that there's lots of work to be done to help those who are forgotten in this world: The people without homes; tucked away in hidden corners of our communities, those who are sick, incarcerated, widowed, or orphaned all come to mind.

Many times Jesus recognized people that others had largely dismissed: the woman caught in adultery (see John 8:1-11), the man with an unclean spirit living among the tombs (see Mark 5;1-20), tax collectors (see Luke 19:1-10), and the man with leprosy (see Mark 1:40-45),

God calls each of us to do what we can to help those in our communities who need a kind word, a thoughtful note, a meal, or a prayer. We all can do something that says we haven't forgotten. It can make all the difference in the world.

Prayer: God of all, help us to ease the suffering of those who feel forgotten, in Jesus' name. Amen.