Posted by ST on February 11, 2002, at 4:59:45
In reply to Re: More about the failure to love your neighbor, posted by lou pilder on February 10, 2002, at 18:46:55
> > >Have you ever encountered a person that was in need and you did not respond? If so, then you failed that one time. > >
Lou,
Yes! I remember walking quickly by someone in need and then regretting it later. Their face, asking for money, I think, stayed with me all day. What I did next was this: the next person who needed a hand/money/a kind word did not receive a hesitation from me. I live in a large city and am constantly asked for money every day. (And I know we're not simply discussing the giving of money to the homeless) I can't always give and sometimes I wonder what that particular person will do with my dollar. But I always try to make eye contact and smile. I'll usually say something like: "I'm sorry, I can't right now, but good luck". I notice their face will light up because someone actually acknowledged them. So, in a way, I did help. In the way that I could. Yes, we all fail at times. The hope is not to consider ourselves failures but as struggling to do the right thing. That is a very human struggle.
Sarah
poster:ST
thread:17906
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/social/20020202/msgs/18071.html