Would You Want Someone to Help You When You're in Need?

I was at Costco with my mom a few weeks ago. She & I were shopping in different parts of the store, when mom suddenly felt dizzy and asked a woman for help. The woman refused to help and left her. When I found mom, she told me about this incident. I was quite upset about it. Who wouldn’t? I'll bet you would be too if this happened to your or your loved ones. So I wondered, maybe next time someone asks us for help, we should. Perhaps our good example may inspire others to do the same.

Setting Good Examples for Kids

I heard a story from a friend about someone who's no longer a practicing Christian. When he was a little kid, his mom would leave him alone at the church hall every Sunday, without any food or water. She told the boy to stay there and do nothing, until she comes back from doing "church work." So he would starve all day. Therefore, it wasn't surprising that he grew up with a negative perception of Christianity. He no longer goes to church due to this bad experience. This raises some interesting questions. Are you neglecting your family obligations? Are you giving your kids a good impression of religion? Are you inspiring your kids, so that they too would want to become practicing Christians?

Does the End Justify the Means?

I read an article about a priest who ran for political office, in another country, to eliminate political corruption. This is forbidden for priests, but he did it anyway. So he believes it's OK to break the rules if he has good intentions. This way of thinking is common in that country. But it leads to the same corruption he wants to eliminate. What if someone offers him a bribe, & tells him to think of the poor he can help with this money? A priest is not immune from temptation. So what will stop him from justifying acceptance of the bribe, if he believes that something "good" can come out of it? Wouldn't this be the same kind of rationalization he used to run for office in the first place? And if he's willing to break any rule he wants, what kind of message is he sending to others? Is he behaving differently from corrupt politicians, who also break any rule they want? While I can understand his frustration, I think it would be more beneficial if he rejects the idea that the end justifies the means, and sets a good example. How? By doing his duty as a priest, & living the virtues, such as obedience. Maybe then, others may emulate him & obey the law, rather than come up with justifications to break it.