Dunbar United Church of Christ - September 20, 2009

I. Janet’s mother is in a singing group called The Sunshine Singers. They sing at county fairs and nursing homes or wherever they can share some of their “sunshine.” Recently they were at the Hebron Fair and they were preparing to sing one of their most requested songs, “Bill Grogan’s Goat.”

As they assembled, one of the singers realized that someone was missing. This member had missed some time -- she was having problems with her memory -- her mind wasn’t always working well. One day she was found in a neighbor’s garden picking beans.

On the day of this gig, some of the Sunshine Singers made a bathroom stop before singing and this woman -- call her Flo -- was the last in the bathroom. Someone said, “We’d better not leave her alone.” But the leader of the group said: “What are we, our brother’s keeper?” So they left her. When they took the stage to sing, Flo wasn’t there. Later she was found wandering around the fair.

II. This is a theme I’ve been returning to a lot lately -- the idea of who we’re responsible for. Should we take an interest in other people’s well-being -- even strangers? Or does our responsibility end with ourselves?

III. Should somebody have stayed with Flo in the bathroom to make sure she found her way to the performance?

What about the millions of people -- including members of our church-- who don’t have health coverage?

IV. Why should we care about other people if we don’t know them? Why should poor people matter to us -- especially if we don’t see them?

V. The one we worship here each Sunday was poor. Jesus owned only the clothing he wore. And he left us clear instructions to take care of one another -- especially “the least of these,” especially children and anyone who can’t take care of themselves. One day -- if we live long enough -- we will be in that group.

VI. So I hope someone in the Sunshine Singers had a talk with the leader of that group -- I hope someone set her straight and said: “Yes -- we are our brother’s and sister’s keeper.” The apostle James said that the purpose of our lives is to care for one another. We become wise the day we realize that.