We don't recieve the newspaper. I have never ordered it because I know that I would not have time to read them, they would pile up and eventually, just be tossed out. However, this morning, as we headed to get the kids to the sitter and school, Isa was overjoyed by the bright orange bag containing the newspaper on our front step.
I just walked over it in my attempt to keep Mateo from jumping in large mud puddles.
But, when I returned home, a line on the front page caught my eye. "How Can People Be So Heartless?" so, I picked it up. I came inside, got comfy and opened it to the article, which I have linked for you here.
Has being a Samaritan fallen by the wayside? The Journal Gazette Fort Wayne, IN
It almost made me cry. Are we so busy that we cannot stop and help a person for a few moments get on their feet? What would I do?
Often, I am the "second guesser" in these situations. I see a car accident, and about a block later, think, "Man, I really should have stopped." But instead, I just call 911. I see a person who is struggling and a few moments later wonder, "Did they need help?" but assume that by the time I would circle around, they would be done, so I continue on.
Has that changed for me? Now that I have a more flexible schedule, would I take a moment to stop. Yes. Probably. I would like to think so, at least.
We like to watch certain shows on television, and one of them had a "What would you do?" type scenerio where there was a person in the park, on the ground sobbing. The biggest measure of if a person would stop or not wasn't their faith or their background, wasn't being male or female, old or young...the biggest measure was if they were on a time constraint. Wow. It is not worth being late for work or an appointment to stop and help another human being.
I am trying to make a stronger effort to be available (however, retain my boundaries that I am building) and to never hesitate to take a few moments of my time to give to someone who is truely in need. For me, that's a really fine line to walk, but I want to walk it.
What do you think of the article? Have you ever been faced with a similar situation? What did you do?
2 comments:
It is so tough these days with all the "untrustworthy" to trust others. Whether it be a person with a flat needing help on the side of the road, a hitchhiker or someone in a car accident...someone begging on the street corners...it's tough to be a good Samaritan.
I use a lot of discernment in those situations...but I am sure...I have failed Christ a few too many times than I'd like to admit by not being available to others when they needed me.
Craaaazy. This article steps on my toes. I would like to say "Yes I absolutly no doubt would stop!" But since I normally have two children with me, I probably wouldn't. I am ashamed to say that I would probably just think "Oh bless her heart she just fell in the snow!" Then I'd say a quick prayer for her and be on my merry way.
Amos would have stopped, and has stopped, and will always stop when he sees people in distress.
The article breaks my heart. I am shown the error of my ways. Thanks for sharing it.
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