Years ago, anthropologist Margaret Mead was asked by a student what she considered to be the first sign of civilization in a culture. The student expected Meade to talk about fishhooks, clay pots, or grinding stones. But no.
Meade said that ancient culture’s first sign of civilization was a femur (thigh bone) that had been broken and then healed. Meade explained that in the animal kingdom if you break your leg, you die. You cannot run from danger, get to the river for a drink, or hunt for food. You are meat for prowling beasts. No animal survives a broken leg long enough for the bone to heal. A broken femur that is healed is evidence that someone has taken time to stay with the one who fell, has bound up the wound, has carried the person to safety, and had rendered the person through recovery.
Helping someone else through difficulty is where civilization starts, Meade said. We are at our best, when we serve others. Be civilized; help someone in need.
Shalom, Paul