I frequently visit the main post office building on 8th Avenue late at night to ship out Improv Everywhere DVDs. The windows are no longer open 24 hours a day, but the Automated Postal Centers are still available. I was using one of the machines tonight when a nice lady approached me and explained she needed to buy a stamp, but didn’t have a credit card. She asked if she could just give me $7 cash and have me purchase her $6.85 Priority Mail stamp. “Sure, no problem,” I told her, “Just let me finish what I’m doing, and I should be able to help you out.” She thanked me and politely stepped away to let me finish my business.
A few minutes later as I was finishing up, a second woman, who had been using the machine next to mine, approached me. Here is our exchange:
Woman: You seem like you have a really good heart, but you need to follow Jesus and not others.
Me: What do you mean by that?
Woman: Here is a website you need to go to to learn how to follow Jesus.
Woman hands me a Priority Mail sticker with a note scrawled in pen, “Seek Jesus & Be led By his word. www.Apostolicfaith.org Headquarters 6615 5E 52nd Ave. Portland OR”
Me: Wait, are you saying I shouldn’t help this woman? (gesturing to the original woman standing right behind us.)
Woman: I’m saying you need to learn to follow Jesus. You have a good heart but you need to follow Him.
Me: So you are saying that I should not help this woman buy a stamp?
Woman: Jesus didn’t go around helping everyone.
Me: I’m pretty sure he did actually, but I don’t believe in Jesus so it doesn’t really matter. I’m going to skip your advice and help this woman out.
Woman: Go to that website and learn to follow Jesus.
Me: No thanks. I’m going to throw this in the trash and then I’m going to help this woman buy a stamp.
Then she walked away. The original lady thanked me profusely for saving her the return trip to the post office in the morning, gave me the cash, and laughed about the crazy Jesus woman.
I can’t believe someone tried to prevent me from being a good samaritan by telling me I should follow Jesus instead of doing a stranger a favor!
