tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25343848.post749191129602877910..comments2023-07-23T08:44:04.807-07:00Comments on Life, the Universe and Everything: The Good SamaritanAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10270726693980247861noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25343848.post-72993264284870878822007-08-26T09:11:00.000-07:002007-08-26T09:11:00.000-07:00I've not heard of Hump Day - I shall need to inves...I've not heard of Hump Day - I shall need to investigate further.<BR/><BR/>We're pretty pally with our immediate neighbours, now that they adjusted to the shock!<BR/><BR/>Being puffy doesn't last very long around here as there's always someone standing by with a pin.<BR/>CheersAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25343848.post-10101475881642185602007-08-25T19:47:00.000-07:002007-08-25T19:47:00.000-07:00I love your choice of this parable for this, Mary....I love your choice of this parable for this, Mary.<BR/><BR/>To Emily's question, I would choose to make sure that my family has what it NEEDS, and then think about others. I certainly don't live this way, because we definitely live to excess; however, I'm trying. <BR/><BR/>In the relatively short time I've been reading Julie, she's shared the concerns she brings up here. I don't suffer the guilt - I just try to do the best I can, both unbidden, and when "disaster" strikes. I don't think major personal sacrifice is required by each of us to be charitable.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25343848.post-3020015142186975122007-08-25T18:26:00.000-07:002007-08-25T18:26:00.000-07:00hmm, seems to me that you'd be a most excellent ne...hmm, seems to me that you'd be a most excellent neighbor...its a matter of heart.<BR/><BR/>Kimmie<BR/>mama to 6<BR/>one homemade and 5 adopted<BR/>come meet us...we're adopting again!Kimmiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04462108880167593207noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25343848.post-57059402428848042722007-08-25T13:34:00.000-07:002007-08-25T13:34:00.000-07:00Julie's comment makes me think about the saying "I...Julie's comment makes me think about the saying "It is better to light one candle than to curse the darkness." Perhaps we are just obliged to do as much as we can. Often, giving in one way means taking somewhere else. For example, if I am constantly out doing charity so that my kids never see me, I am doing one kind of good and one kind of bad. Or, if my child has allergies so I run central air even when it is only warm, I am defiling the environment and actually making the air quality worse, perhaps exacerbating another child's asthma or allergies. If charity begins at home, must I take care of my family's needs 100% before thinking about those outside my walls, or do I think about my family first but never exclusively?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25343848.post-55725421291256604052007-08-25T12:03:00.000-07:002007-08-25T12:03:00.000-07:00per Julie's question, the 2 religious men hurried ...per Julie's question, the 2 religious men hurried by because to touch a bleeding man would make them "unclean" for their holy rituals. Jesus was also making the point here that taking care of someone's needs take precedence over the rules of what is acceptable, once again trying to break the religious leaders free of the strict adherence to rules at the expense of truly helping others.<BR/><BR/>And yes, the story is about helping people who are not like us, people who are supposed to be our enemies. Saying that the Samaritan, a person who was reviled by the Jews, was acting in a more Godly fashion than the religious leaders who hurried by, too busy and concerned with following rules and protocal to help.<BR/><BR/>The Samaritan was on his way somewhere. Clearly stopping to help was an inconvienience. And he came back to check on the injured man. Surely that was not in his day planner.painted maypolehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06446625015003854710noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25343848.post-40978112749333869942007-08-25T11:39:00.000-07:002007-08-25T11:39:00.000-07:00I've always thought that was a beautiful story. An...I've always thought that was a beautiful story. And your thoughts on it are equally so. I remember reading a joke about how you know you're in the 21st century when you talk every day online with someone in South Africa but you don't know anything at all about your next door neighbor.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25343848.post-69951052632113105612007-08-25T10:12:00.000-07:002007-08-25T10:12:00.000-07:00Julie,You are right about having to be careful abo...Julie,<BR/><BR/>You are right about having to be careful about parables. The stories illustrate a point and that can be hard. How far do you take it? <BR/><BR/>For me, these are my takeaways:<BR/><BR/>1. The people you would expect to act, didn’t.<BR/><BR/>2. The person who was considered worthless by the audience to whom Jesus was speaking, did act.<BR/><BR/>3. Your neighbor isn’t necessarily the person who is like you, from where you are from, etc.<BR/><BR/>4. Mercy can be shown by anybody.<BR/><BR/>I also think the description of the Samaritan’s heart going out to the traveler is important. The implication would be that the other two didn’t have that response. It is possible to be moved and try to help but not have money to set the guy up, etc. It is the heart being open and moved by what is around you which matters more. You do what you can, the widow's mite and all that, at least, that is how I read it.<BR/><BR/>And I do think you are right about preaching to those already sensitive to it. If you are not ready to hear a story like this (ready not implying there is no responsibility on your part to be ready) then you are just not going to get it. For those who already embrace this point of view, I think reminders are good check points. Am I being open? Am I too focused inward? A little inventory of sorts.<BR/><BR/>Thanks for the thought provoking comments!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10270726693980247861noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25343848.post-78654053848147931012007-08-25T09:07:00.000-07:002007-08-25T09:07:00.000-07:00I think that's a good point.And I've been thinking...I think that's a good point.<BR/><BR/>And I've been thinking a lot about expectation, of self and others.<BR/><BR/>I haven't got the answer, I'll admit it.<BR/><BR/>But the question is this: is it the every day that matters, and must we be extraordinary in our assistance to others every day, or is it the times of need that matter...and how do we juggle that with what we individually need and what our family's need?<BR/><BR/>I have friends who every single day go out and give something to someone. Some days, I notice they feed the community while their own families starve. Some days I notice how much it means to someone that this person is there.<BR/><BR/>I know people who don't find much value in themselves because they don't do much every day or big. <BR/><BR/>The Samaritan's act is hard to put in context. He passed by the man. He was already on the road, he wasn't called at home and asked to set something aside or find childcare, go out across the city to the country and help this person.<BR/><BR/>We have no idea if those silver coins were a fortune or merely pocket change.<BR/><BR/>We have no idea why the two religious men hurried past.<BR/><BR/>This is often the trouble with parables: the context is hard to place, so I wonder how we can wisely apply this lesson.<BR/><BR/>Is there never any legitimate excuse from turning away from need?<BR/><BR/>I know when I stretch out and seek need, I am overwhelmed by it. It makes me want to turtle.<BR/><BR/>Perhaps the lesson is simply, if you walk past need and can ably assist, you should. <BR/><BR/>Perhaps the lesson also is to not do so at too high a cost, to yourself and family. But that part isn't in there and inherent in that is the typical Protestant/Catholic guilt through feeling as if we don't give enough, ever, and not acknowledging the many different ways to give.<BR/><BR/>You know?<BR/><BR/>The constant call to help invokes guilt in those of us who do try and do contribute, and falls on the deaf ears, I think, of those who don't.<BR/><BR/>So those of us giving try to give more, sometimes too much.<BR/><BR/>Am I making any sense here? LOLJulie Pipperthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03169574697104642479noreply@blogger.com