A motorist drove his car into a ditch in a desolated area. Luckily, a local farmer came to help with his big strong horse named Buddy. He hitched Buddy up to the car and yelled, "Pull, Nellie, pull!" Buddy didn't move. Then the farmer hollered, "Pull, Buster, pull!" Buddy didn't respond. Once more the farmer commanded, "Pull, Coco, pull!" Nothing. Then the farmer nonchalantly said, "Pull, Buddy, pull!" The horse easily dragged the car out of the ditch. The motorist was most appreciative and very curious. He asked the farmer why he called his horse by the wrong name three times. The farmer said, "Oh, Buddy is blind and if he thought he was the only one pulling, he wouldn't even try!"

Did you ever know someone like Buddy? Have you ever heard someone say, "Why should I pour my time and effort into the work of the church? No one else seems to care!" Or, how about this one: "Why should I put forth the extra effort to do a good job at work? No one else does, and it wouldn't be appreciated anyway!" Then there's this one: "Why should I be nice to him? He's certainly not going to make any effort to be nice to me!" Likely we've all known people to make comments like this; perhaps it was even us.

It's easy to get discouraged when we look around and very few if any seem to really care about being kind, thoughtful or helpful to others. We can quickly develop an "I don't care either" attitude if we aren't careful. It's what we call in preacher circles the "Elijah Complex." At one time he thought he was the only faithful servant of God left, and God had to inform him that He had 7000 other servants who had not surrendered to the enemy - (1 Kgs. 19). Hey, don't be blind like Buddy or pout like Elijah when you feel alone. Remember what Paul said. "And let us not be weary in well-doing; for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not." - (Gal. 6:9)

Lonnie Ritchie

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