Last summer, I was hiking the Sudley Loop trail at Manassas Battlefield near Sudley Church when I came across this interesting sign. The sign read,

"Following the First Battle of Manassas, the Bensons discovered a wounded Union soldier, Private John Rice of the 2nd New Hampshire Infantry, left for dead near Sudley Church. For ten days, the Bensons dressed his wounds, provided him with food and water, and protected him from the elements. Rice eventually made a complete recovery.

In 1886, John Rice returned to the Bull Run battlefield and found the Bensons at Christian Hill. Rice inquired how he might repay them for their past kindness, but they refused any financial compensation. The Bensons, active members of Sudley Church, remarked that the congregation remained saddled with debt incurred during the rebuilding of their war-wrecked sanctuary.

Upon returning home, Rice took his story to the local newspaper. Within four days, residents contributed $235 - more than enough to cover the church debt. Rice jubilantly forwarded the donation, hoping that the gift might dispel the last doubt of a complete and lasting reconciliation between North and South."

What stands out in this story is that Rice was under no duty to act. He could have continued his life without compensating the Bensons. Remember how Jesus healed ten lepers, but only one, a Samaritan, returned to thank Him. Clearly, Rice believed he owed the Bensons a debt, knowing that without their help, he would have died. Although they could have turned away since he was their enemy, they chose to look after him. Their support wasn't just for a few hours or a day; they cared for him over ten days, exceeding expectations. Their kindness made a deep impression on Rice, fueling his resolve to return it.

I think the Bensons' devotion to God motivated them to choose kindness over hatred toward their enemy. Perhaps they saw that this man, though from the North, was still an American and felt it was their Christian duty to care for him, or was it simply a deep sense of southern honor? Regardless, they cared for Rice, not expecting him ever to repay them or remember what they did for him. The beauty of it is that Rice did not forget. He was evidently a man of honor who wanted to repay his debt to them, so he returned to the Bensons' home at Christian Hill to do so. The Bensons refused financial compensation, but they told Rice about their church's postwar repair needs.

When Rice heard this, he returned to his hometown, told of the Bensons' kindness to him and their church's financial situation, and his community rallied and sent them more than enough money for Sudley Church to repay its debts. The kindness the Bensons showed Rice came back to help their church. Is that not what the church is? When someone else is in need, others will hear the call and help out! That was what the early church was like, and that's what we still should be today! We are now a global community, and we are here for one another! And who knows, the kindness we show to others may come back to help us when we need it most!

Take care,

Bill R.