Good Samaritans?

Ever Lend someone a helping hand? Ever not lend a helping hand because of fear? Either way, have you ever wondered why?

Some people say we only do whatever we do out of either fear or greed. Others claim that we only work out of altruistic desires. I’m willing to bet that when everything is boiled down, there’s a combination of all three in there.

On the one hand were always afraid that somebody’s going to put one over on us. That is when a helping hand becomes a doing for and being responsible for somebody else’s needs, and welfare while they do nothing. This leads us to a feeling of not wanting to get involved.

On another hand, we want to do good for others. When we see a homeless person in our community, we have a tendency to think about how with just a few changes in history, it could be us out there. We know that if we were there, we might need some help to get back to where we are now. We want to help in the hopes that if we were there, someone else would help.

What is the right thing to do? Well, that depends on many things. Are we in a position to help? Is it better to help with a donation of monies or donation of personal time? What help is present through other means to those on the street, and what do they need that nobody is doing presently? This is a complicated issue.

A good man from Galilee stated that the poor would be with us always. This brings me to believe that it is something that may never be cured, yet can be maintained. I can tell you that our country is blessed with riches.

When I went to a foreign country, I saw orphans in the street wearing filthy pajamas and eating leaves while those around utterly ignored and shunned them. I told my son when I got back to the states. He said to me that I was wrong, that I misunderstood. No one anywhere would ever treat a child like that. I wished his statement was correct. Only, I am the one who was there and had seen the lack of care.

I know that no one can do it all and I believe the best we can do is help people to help themselves. Yet, I always think of the good Samaritan and wonder if I am holding up my end of the bargain.

Author: Mike Balof

A retired Air Force Master Sergeant, Mike used to lay in bed at night and worry about what would happen if his plant closed or found himself without a job. One day his plant closed. Rather than panic and hysteria (OK, maybe a little) Mike found himself carried away on the adventure of his life. Mike started with the best job he ever had working at Home Depot. He spent 8 years working with job seekers at a local workforce center, helping them to find employment. He then started his own company developing courses, writing books and urging others to follow their own paths into the future. Mike holds a Master of Arts in Adult Education and Training and a Bachelor of Business Management, earned through the University of Phoenix and an AAS degree in Electronics Systems Technology from the Community College of the Air Force. Mike is a member of the Delta Mu Delta Business Honor Society. View all posts by Mike Balof