An interesting news item I recently stumbled upon:
A man died last night after driving a black Toyota into an artificial pond in Central Islip while trying to evade the police. Three officers who tried to rescue him from the water were also taken [to the hospital] with hypothermia. The driver had been acting suspiciously in a Home Depot parking lot, sitting in the car with the lights off, and had drawn the attention of the police. When officers knocked on the car's window, the driver did not respond at first, but then put the car into gear and drove into the water, nearly running over one of the officers... (excerpted from NY Newsday, Feb. 10).
What possessed these officers to jeopardize their lives in an attempt to save an obviously deranged individual who just moments earlier demonstrated that he could care less about them? By jumping into the frigid waters, the officers demonstrated incredible love for their fellow—from whence came this love for an unloving individual?
But I don't think that the officers viewed it as an act of love. In their eyes, they were simply discharging their duty. Part of their job.
Care and love, not as an emotion, but as a duty! That's certainly something we can learn from.
"If you come upon your enemy's bull or his stray donkey, you shall surely return it to him. If you see your enemy's donkey lying under its burden would you refrain from helping him? You shall surely help along with him" (Exodus 22:4-5).
And when we act lovingly, the emotions will follow. And even if they won't... the main mission has already been accomplished!
