Thursday, May 6, 2010

IF Someone is Hurting, YOU Stop and Help

I had a completely different post planned for today, but I just came across something very disturbing that I felt I should pass this along.

It is human nature to want to help people; or so you would think.

If your friend is hurting, whether emotionally or physically, you're there for them, right?  You bring them dinner, you talk to them, you pray for them.  You want to help them as much as possible to stop hurting.  At least that's what I would do, and I would assume most of you would do the same.

Why wouldn't we want to do this for strangers?  We pray for the homeless, we pray for the sick and suffering, we pray for our aging parents and family members, hoping they stay well and safe.  Even if you are not a religious person, you still think of your friends and family and wish them no harm.

I understand that sometimes situations are a little scary when it comes to strangers.  This day and age you don't know people.  But whenever possible, I still try to give whatever spare change I might have to the homeless person on the side of the street though I will admit, I don't always adhere.

But, you never know when you might meet Jesus.

What spurred this?

I was returning to my office from an errand and was on a very busy street/intersection where an older gentlemen was riding his bike.  He had on a helmet, was obeying all the traffic rules saying he could cross and he fell off of his bike in the middle of the street. 

Not one single person took the time to stop.  Not one person rolled down their window to ask if he was okay.  Not one person stepped outside of their car.  I turned the corner and stopped, got out of my car, helped him up and helped him with his bike to the side of the road.  By time I could get to him (because I was behind one car and couldn't make a turn), he had been laying there trying to get up for a full two minutes, or so it felt.  It had been long enough for me to, at least, see that people weren't doing a thing.  Even the people in the cars he was blocking didn't do anything and they were RIGHT THERE!  In fact, one person even honked at him, as if he wasn't embarrassed enough already.

"Do unto others as you would have them do unto you." - Matthew 12:12

He insisted he was okay, just a little weak from having his leg under the bike and he said thank you and went on his way.  I sat there for a minute, just to make sure he got off okay.  He was probably in his early 70s, so I was still a little worried he was truly hurt.

It took no more than 5 minutes of my time, probably less, and this man clearly was not a danger to me, especially admist all this traffic (or so one would think).  If he had needed 911, I would have stayed there with him because that is the right thing to do.

I was so disheartened by this situation, that I felt compelled to pass this on.  If YOU see someone hurting and YOU can do something, take time out of your ever precious day to help.  If this person were your friend, you'd help right?  Why not a stranger?  What if this was your mother, father, sister or brother?  You'd help.  Would you want some other stranger to help your friend?  I 100% would wish this.

I just don't understand people these days.  Even is Lallie were with me, I would have made arrangements to stop and help.  He was clearly hurting.

I'm not trying to be righteous and I'm not trying to be a citizen of the month, but seriously, no matter your religion or whatnot, you would want to help someone stop hurting?  Right? 

This reminds me of those primetime shows they've been showing lately.  How people are not willing to risk a thing to help a stranger in need.

So, next time you see someone hurting, stop and help.  It's the right thing to do.

From Matthew 25:40-45  - The Final Judgement a/k/a The Sheep and the Goats (NIV)

40 “The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’


41 “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42 For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 43 I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’
44“They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’
45“He will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’



11 comments:

  1. Amen!!!! I completely agree with you! I think people in FL are just "hardened" when it comes to compassion. My husband is from Lexington ( we met at UK..go Cats), and people are much nicer there! They look out for each other...somehow that doesn't seem to be the case here in FL!!! I had quite the culture-shock when we moved to FL... Love reading your blog, btw!
    ~Bianca

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  2. That is so terrible.. and reminds me of the Kitty Genovese story. Glad to hear you helped him out and hope he's okay!

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  3. I agree... it is so shocking sometimes, and in a case like that on a busy street in the middle of the day, you can't even justify not helping by the danger of it.... my boyfriend is from Fayetteville, Arkansas and I think people are much nicer there too... I was a witness to a hit and run accident and three cars including myself pulled over to help the guy, call the police and then wait on the scene with him until the police got there so we could make sure he would be taken care of... it took maybe 20 minutes, but it made a world of difference to this gentleman (who happened to be from Belgium on business and had no idea what to do in an accident in America)! In Austin if that happened, I think people would just keep going!

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  4. I'm so glad you stopped to help this man! And you're right, it's sad how we don't help each other. But yet, we'll send $$ all over the world (Haiti, etc). While it's great to do this, empathy and charity should start at home - in my opinion, of course. :-) XOXO

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  5. I would have done the same thing.
    You are a true role model and classy lady Jennifer!!
    KUDOS to you!!
    Have a great rest of your day knowing YOU did the right thing.

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  6. This seems to be a prevalent thing these days. There was a guy in NYC who saw a lady being mugged. He stop the mugger but was stabbed in the process. As he lay on the sidewalk dying people passed by but did nothing to get him help or stay with him. I can not believe how insensitive and self centered we have become as a nation. I too would have stopped to make sure the gentleman on the bike was ok.

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  7. I just think... What if that was my Parent?

    Always Bumby

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  8. Similarly, I spotted a dog hit by a car last night that couldn't move and the cars were just parting and driving around her. So upsetting! After I pulled over and stopped traffic to get her, 5 cars stopped to offer help to me, which warmed my heart in this big city. Good people outweigh the bad, I believe it!

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  9. I am so happy that you stopped and helped. It is something that I am trying to instill in both of my children. Being of service is the only way to salvation. Many in our culture are becoming something unGodly and I want no part of that. I live in Southern California, the land of the self obsessed, so it is an uphill battle for me, but one of my many mantras (that my 6 year old can quote) is, "Integrity is doing what is right even when no one is looking."

    p.s. Traci from Beneath My Heart calls this earning your crown in Heaven and just wrote about it yesterday. It is a good read and brought me to tears, but also let me know that our kids will learn this eventually and God sees all. I am just a reader, not an advertiser for her, but thought you might enjoy it. http://beneathmyheart.blogspot.com/

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  10. I totally believe this and am so glad you stopped to help that man!!! The other day I was jogging and started to feel really nauseous. I thought I wasn't going to make it back to the house where I was staying with friends. I kept going and going until I got really sick from the heat and practically passed out on the street. Now there I was obviously in distress and not one person stopped to ask me if I was okay. Finally a little boy came out of his house to play and I had him call his mama. She was very kind and offered water and asked if she could call someone. Anyhoo...what about the man in New York was it???...who recently helped someone and then was stabbed and everybody just kept walking by him. Not one soul stopped until finally one guy stopped to take a photo of him with his iPhone. It's just pathetic.

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  11. Great post. Everyone knows the story of the Good Samaritan, yet we still ignore those in need so often. It's just easier, right? I don't know about you, but the guilt I feel when I don't help, is enough to make me want to help every time. I'm glad you were able to assist that man. And you're right, you never know when we may meet Jesus. :)

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