I watched a fight the other day. It made my stomach twist in knots. I wanted to stop, but realized that I had to watch in order to see if I could do something to help. It was a man and woman screaming at each other. She kept saying "I don't want to be treated like this any more" and he kept responding with comments of hate and vulgar names. I am sure there are a thousand different things that could have been the basis of what was going on, but it really did not matter: it looked a number of times like he was about to get violent. In the end he drove off without doing anything to harm her physically; but the emotional violence had been done. Sometimes words can hurt more than a fist.
I had my phone in hand and had already dialed 911, but just had not hit the call button. I am not a big guy, and I knew that I would likely not have been able to overcome that man if I had to try. Yet, we need to be willing to do what is right to help others; even if we are going to suffer for it. I thank God that I did not have to step in to prevent a greater evil.
Then, after he left, I quickly prayed that I could see if the woman was ok after the altercation. She did not look my way, and left the area with her head down. I considered approaching her, but someone else came over; it appeared to be someone she knew. Would I have done more if I could? I hope so. Will God open the door for me to put myself out there for someone in need like that? I want to say what the Saints who died for their faith said so many times in the past: "Lord, please give me the strength to do what I need to do, when I need to do it, and be there with me so that I can do it for Your glory".
That really should be our prayer every day; not just when we find ourselves "watching a fight".