The Civilized Man

In the novel L’Aventure Ambiguë by Cheikh Hamidou Kane, the father (known as the “the knight”) of the main character gave a definition of what it means to be civilized that I think is very profound.  He said, “Est-il de civilisation hord l’équilibre de l’homme et sa disponibilité?  L’homme civilisé, n’est-ce pas l’homme disponible?  Disponible pour aimer son semblable, pour aimer Dieu surtout.”  My rough translation would read something like this: “Is there civilization outside of the balance of man and his availability? Civilized man, is it not the man who is available? Available to love his neighbor, especially to love God.” 

Using this description of a civilized man, no one measures up better than Jesus Christ.  He was always available to love those around him, especially those who were unloved by most of society.  When Jesus was on his way to help Jairus whose daughter was dead, “a woman, which was diseased with an issue of blood twelve years, came behind him, and touched the hem of his garment” (Matt. 9:20).  Jesus, despite the fact that He was already on His way to help someone else, was not too busy to notice, speak to, and ultimately heal this woman.  He was always available to bless the sick.  When his disciples rebuked people for trying to bring little children to see Jesus, He said, “Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 19:14).  He then took the time to bless the children—He was always available for the children.  On the road to Emmaus, the Resurrected Lord walked with and spoke to two of the disciples.  As they arrived at the village, Jesus “made as though he would have gone further.”  He apparently had other visits to make and other people to see.  But the disciples “constrained him, saying, Abide with us” and Jesus, never too busy to teach and love, “went in to tarry with them” (Luke 24:28-29).  Christ was always available to abide with the lonely.  When Jesus was on His way passing through Jericho, a man named Zacchaeus sought to see the Savior but couldn’t get to Him so he climbed up a tree.  Jesus was perceptive enough to look up and noticed him, and then he took the time to minister to him.  “Zacchaeus, make haste, and come down; for to day I must abide at thy house” (Luke 19:5).  Zacchaeus was one who was labeled a “sinner” by the society around him, but the Savior did not let the prejudices of others stop him from seeing people for who they really were.  He was always available to spend time with those who were in His path.  I’m sure there are many more stories from the life of the Savior found in the Gospels and 3 Nephi that we could point to which show how Christ was always available to serve His Father’s children.  The same passage in L’Aventure Ambiguë has this prescription for society: “Ce n’est pas d’un regain d’accélération que le monde a besoin: en ce midi de sa recherche, c’est un lit qu’il lui faut.”  (“The world doesn’t need a resurgence of speed: in this midday of his search, it’s a bed that he needs.”)  In other words, our lives in the modern world, despite all of the technological advances of the past centuries, are busier than ever and what we need is to slow down, not speed up.  Christ knew how to slow down and love those around Him and thus was the true Civilized Man.  Our real contribution to society should be measured not by our accomplishments but by our availability to love and serve our neighbor.